​Shedeur Sanders’ future with the Cleveland Browns has dominated trade chatter and roster speculation this offseason. Rumors swirled that the Browns might move on from the second-year quarterback, arguing that Cleveland had too many signal-callers and that Sanders could be the expendable piece. Yet talk persists that he could be in line for a starting role in Cleveland in 2026. So, what is the current status of Sanders with the Browns?
NFL insider James Palmer has reported that Cleveland has actually been highly impressed with Sanders’ development this offseason and the positioning he has carved out for the 2026 season. “He is improving in terms of his pocket presence, in terms of going through his progressions, all the stuff that you need to play an effective NFL quarterback,” Palmer said. “He has worked hard while he’s in the building. He’s been a good teammate. He’s been a guy that is really trying to improve and work hard.” Palmer acknowledged that questions about Sanders’ game coming out of college meant he would be a developmental prospect, and he noted that Sanders didn’t operate from under center in college, which is a transition for a young quarterback. Nevertheless, Sanders has long been known as an accurate passer, and Cleveland is seeing progress in the areas that gave him challenges when they drafted him.
Despite the ongoing trade chatter, Palmer does not foresee the Browns trading Sanders. “My understanding is they don’t have any intention on trading Shedeur Sanders,” he stated. “He is a player that they’re seeing improve, that they have under control for the next several years, and don’t have a heavy financial commitment into.” He emphasized that Sanders hasn’t created any off-the-field issues or behind-the-scenes drama that would push the organization toward a parting of ways, and he noted that the Browns have enjoyed watching his development.
Palmer also believes both Sanders and Deshaun Watson will be on the Browns’ roster to begin the 2026 season, and there’s a chance both could still be there at the season’s end. With the substantial financial commitment already in place for Watson and with the veteran being healthy again, Watson led the quarterback competition early, but Sanders has been closing the gap in Palmer’s view. “There are many who expect the season to start with Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders because it’s easier to transition from a veteran to a younger player,” Palmer said. “But Shedeur Sanders has closed the gap.”
While headlines have often focused on Sanders’ attitude and how he would fit in the locker room, the impression from the latest reporting is that he has conducted himself well and that his presence has been more about his performance on the field than anything else. The overall takeaway is that the Browns see Sanders as a developing talent who has steadily grown, have him under club control for several years, and are not actively seeking a trade or a quick exit from his potential contribution.
As the 2026 window approaches, the Browns appear to be weighing a plan that could involve both Sanders and Watson contributing to the quarterback room. If Sanders continues his current trajectory, there is a tangible scenario where he earns a significant role sooner rather than later, while Watson remains a cornerstone veteran option. For now, the latest insider perspective suggests that Sanders is in a favorable position within Cleveland’s long-term plans, with no imminent move to ship him out and a realistic path to a notable role in the near future.