​The San Francisco 49ers already boast two Pro Bowl quarterbacks on their roster, but there could still be room for another passer. On the other side of the league, the Cleveland Browns’ Shedeur Sanders is entering his second year and finding himself in a quarterback competition with Deshaun Watson for the starting job. Sanders finished last season as the Browns’ starter after opening as the third-string quarterback, guiding Cleveland to more wins by a starter than any other Browns quarterback during the year, finishing the season 3-4 in games he started.
Yet Sanders’ name is fueling a lot of trade chatter. In a piece listing five players who could be moved by training camp, Pro Football Network’s Cooper Kleinberg includes a potential move for the reigning Pro Bowl quarterback. Among the three possible destinations discussed, the 49ers appear as one of the possibilities. Kleinberg describes the Browns’ quarterback room as a “logjam,” noting that one of Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green, or Shedeur Sanders could depart before the regular season begins. ESPN Cleveland radio host Tony Rizzo has also indicated that the Browns are receiving calls regarding Sanders’ availability, saying, “There are talks and ongoing calls about the availability of Shedeur Sanders.” Taken together, these reports make it seem increasingly likely that Sanders could be the odd man out.
While his stat line—seven touchdowns and ten interceptions—wasn’t eye-popping, Sanders demonstrated his athleticism and arm talent, providing stability for the Browns at a time when the offense struggled. Before he was inserted into the starting role, Cleveland had dropped three straight and won only two games. It’s worth noting that the Browns’ supporting cast was arguably among the league’s weakest, ranking 31st in points scored and 27th in rushing. Their leading receiver, Jerry Jeudy, posted just 50 receptions for 602 yards and two touchdowns.
Kleinberg points out that, despite the modest box score, Sanders flashed mobility and arm ability on multiple occasions. As uncertainty persists at the QB2 position around the league, teams are likely to inquire about the Browns’ talented young signal-caller.
The 49ers, however, have their quarterback situation largely settled with Brock Purdy as the starter and Mac Jones serving as the backup. Jones, a former Pro Bowl quarterback and ex-starter for the New England Patriots, has also helped stabilize the 49ers during Purdy’s absence. In a season where Purdy missed time, Jones went 5-3 as a starter, throwing 13 touchdowns against six interceptions for a 97.4 passer rating.
With Jones’s potential value as a trade asset, there is practical appeal to consider when weighing whether the 49ers could pursue a change at backup or reserve quarterback. The discussion around Sanders highlights broader questions about roster depth and how teams balance competition, development, and immediate needs as training camp approaches.