Amidst speculation over who would become the Cleveland Browns’ franchise quarterback in the 2026 season, Shedeur Sanders has received an update on his prospects from NFL expert Jonathan Jones.

Speaking on the March 10 episode of CBS Sports HQ, Jones believes Sanders will have chances to prove he deserves to be the starting quarterback. However, he will not be the first choice QB if he fails.

“If Shedeur Sanders, having been given all these opportunities, does not prove himself worthy of QB 1 against Deshaun Watson, then he will not be QB1 under Todd Monken,” Jones said on the show. 

For Sanders, the stakes are high, and the odds are against him after a rough rookie season. The 24-year-old’s performance in his rookie season was lackluster to say the least. Sanders took over the starting quarterback position when fellow 2025 rookie Dillon Gabriel sustained an injury. 

After a rough draft slide and being benched as the QB 4, Sanders had the opportunity to leave a lasting impression, but he threw seven touchdowns for 1,400 yards in the ten games he played in from Week 11. On the other hand, he threw 10 interceptions and ended the season with a QBR of 18.9.

This performance barely attests to his talent or potential, something the Browns cannot afford to wait and test. After ending the past two seasons with 4-12 and 5-12 records, at the bottom of the charts, the Browns need a trustworthy, or at least seasoned, quarterback to carry their offense forward. 

Deshaun Watson Still Poses a Threat to Sanders

In 2026, Watson would be entering his final season with the Browns. Despite signing a $230 million, five-year contract and starting in only 19 games, Watson is still a veteran quarterback.

The 30-year-old has recovered from the Achilles injuries that kept him off the field and is preparing for a comeback. And more importantly, head coach Todd Monken has said he would pick QB1 from an “open competition” between the two players.

At the 2026 NFL Combine, Monken confessed he doesn't have enough information to decide a starting quarterback yet, but he still praised Sanders' growth as a player.

"I think what you see is elite playmaker ability. That's in him (Shedeur Sanders). You've seen [it], we've seen it, you saw it in college, we saw it on tape last year. There's a ways to go, but what rookie isn't? I'm excited to get started with him and all our starting quarterbacks."

Monken and the management’s reluctance to announce the QB1 just yet indicated how seriously the franchise takes the issue at hand. And it is the last chance for both Sanders and Watson to prove their worth.

Do you think Sanders can clinch QB 1 from Watson? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Sayantan Gayen