The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, displayed moments of potential during his rookie season in 2025. However, this hasn’t been sufficient to impress NFL executives and coaches. The Athletic recently released its 2026 NFL quarterback tiers list, placing Sanders last among 35 quarterbacks.
A defensive coordinator commented, “I’d sleep like a baby if I got to play him every week.”
An executive noted, “He’s inaccurate at all three levels. I can’t tell if he is going to get better, but there’s a huge gap between him and competent QB play.”
The rankings were categorized from the best (Tier 1) to the worst (Tier 5), followed by a regular vote. From the 50 executives and coaches surveyed, Sanders received just one Tier 3 vote, 37 Tier 4 votes, and 12 Tier 5 votes.
Another coordinator added, “He’s not an on-time player, can’t really read through the coverages, is a little bit heavy-footed. He is thicker and harder to tackle than expected, but you shouldn’t lose to him.”
Now, Sanders faces another quarterback competition at Browns training camp with Deshaun Watson healthy and competing for the starting position under new head coach Todd Monken’s guidance.
Sanders was appointed as starter for the last six games of the Browns’ 2025 season after a debut win against the Las Vegas Raiders. He passed for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and had 10 interceptions, completing only 56.6% of his passes, prompting the Browns to expect improvement.
Could Todd Monken’s offensive expertise aid Sanders’ development? One voter believes this might be possible.
“Todd Monken is a great reset in the same way Ben Johnson was a great reset in Chicago. Shedeur gets a fresh start with a no-nonsense, offensive-oriented coach who did a really good job with Lamar Jackson,” the voter stated.
The voter further expressed optimism provided Sanders dedicates himself to learning the playbook, executing his assignments, and efficiently commanding the offense—a skill he struggled with last year.
Monken has yet to name his primary quarterback and maintains a true competition is underway during his first camp with the Browns. Sanders, Watson, and Dillon Gabriel are actively competing for the role.
Deshaun Watson, who ranked 31st among the 35 quarterbacks, did not play last season as he recovered from an Achilles injury sustained in 2024.
The Browns will kick off their preseason against the Bears on August 15, providing their first competitive challenge.