Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Gets Starting Role, But Future Remains Uncertain
In a significant shift for the Cleveland Browns, Shedeur Sanders has been named the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. This appointment gives the young signal-caller a valuable opportunity to demonstrate his potential as a long-term solution for the franchise. Despite this vote of confidence, most NFL analysts continue to predict that Cleveland will pursue a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL Draft, with some even suggesting the team might trade up for the coveted first overall pick. Sanders’ current statistics—completing 52.4 percent of his passes for 769 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions across four games, along with 50 rushing yards and a touchdown—show promise but haven’t cemented his position as the Browns’ quarterback of the future.
Should Cleveland ultimately decide to draft a new franchise quarterback next year, Sanders would likely find himself on the trading block, creating an interesting opportunity for quarterback-needy teams around the league. His brief but intriguing NFL showing suggests he could draw interest from several franchises looking for either competition at the position or a high-upside backup. While Sanders hasn’t dominated the league during his limited playing time in Cleveland, he’s shown enough flashes of talent to warrant consideration from teams facing uncertainty at the quarterback position, especially those in transitional periods who might value a young quarterback with starting experience and room to develop.
One team that could emerge as a potential landing spot for Sanders is the Indianapolis Colts, who are navigating their own quarterback challenges. With Daniel Jones recently suffering a torn Achilles tendon, the Colts’ quarterback situation has become increasingly complicated heading into 2026. Behind Jones, Indianapolis currently features Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, and recently un-retired veteran Philip Rivers, who joined the team as an emergency option. Anthony Richardson, once considered the franchise’s future at the position and a former No. 4 overall pick, has been sidelined with an orbital injury and is reportedly on track to be moved during the upcoming offseason, creating additional uncertainty at the position.
For the Colts, acquiring Sanders could provide multiple benefits depending on how they approach their quarterback room for the 2026 season. If Indianapolis chooses to re-sign Jones despite his injury concerns, Sanders would represent a more experienced backup option than Leonard, offering insurance against Jones’ uncertain recovery timeline. The Achilles injury is notoriously difficult for athletes to return from at full strength, and having a quarterback with starting experience ready would mitigate some of that risk. Alternatively, if the Colts move in a different direction at the position altogether, Sanders could compete for the starting role or serve as a bridge quarterback while the team develops another prospect.
The potential Sanders trade scenario highlights the fluid nature of NFL quarterback rooms and the constant reshuffling that occurs as teams evaluate their options. For Sanders personally, being traded from Cleveland after just getting his opportunity would certainly be disappointing, but it could also represent a fresh start in a system potentially better suited to his skills. His mobility and arm talent could be assets in the right offensive scheme, and at his age, he would still have plenty of time to develop into a more consistent performer. The NFL landscape is littered with examples of quarterbacks who found success after changing teams early in their careers, from Brett Favre to Drew Brees.
While there’s no guarantee that Indianapolis would pursue Sanders or that Cleveland would ultimately move on from him after this season, the situation bears monitoring as both franchises navigate their quarterback futures. For the Browns, these remaining games represent an extended audition for Sanders to change the narrative and convince the organization he can be their long-term answer. For the Colts and other quarterback-needy teams, Sanders represents an intriguing option with NFL starting experience who might be available without the steep price of a high draft pick. As the season progresses and the 2026 draft approaches, Sanders’ performance will be closely scrutinized not just by Browns fans and executives, but by personnel departments across the league evaluating their future options at the sport’s most important position.
