Shedeur Sanders concluded his first NFL season with a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, helping the Cleveland Browns finish 5-12. While ending the season on a win is a positive note, the rookie quarterback faced significant scrutiny throughout his inaugural campaign.
Selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft out of Colorado, Sanders displayed flashes of potential but also encountered the growing pains expected of a first-year signal-caller.
Shedeur Sanders shows why he should be the Browns quarterback
Despite not being guaranteed the starting role in 2026, Sanders remains motivated to establish himself with the Browns.
“I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now,” Sanders said at his end-of-season press conference.
“So, I’m always the same, confidence-wise, I’m there. But like, that’s not in my hands. Like, that’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel.”
Although Sanders highlighted areas of personal growth, his rookie campaign also included a dubious distinction: he finished with a 12.0 QBR, the lowest QBR of any Browns quarterback in franchise history among those who started multiple games.
This occurred despite Dillon Gabriel‘s earlier struggles as the team’s QB1, after which Sanders was named starter by head coach Kevin Stefanski for the final stretch of the season.
The disappointing season ultimately led to the dismissal of Stefanski, meaning Sanders will enter 2026 under the guidance of a new coaching staff tasked with supporting his development.
Shedeur still has one fan in his corner
Despite the franchise struggles and growing pains, the rookie has at least one strong supporter in his corner.
NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has been vocal about his belief in Sanders‘s long-term potential.
“I don’t know what else the kid needs to do. Everything about Shedeur Sanders screams he’s the quarterback. People were negative in April and they’re going to be negative now. They are gonna be like, ‘Oh, where’s he ranked?’
“Forget that. Look at the interceptions that were off of Jerry Jeudy, off of Judkins‘ shoulder, batted balls.
“Joe Burrow had one yesterday, are you blaming him for that? No. Are you going to blame Shedeur for that? You shouldn’t.”
Kiper went on to emphasize the challenges Sanders faced as a rookie: “When you look at what Shedeur did this year, not having any training camp, never with the 1s-defense or offense-he was thrown out there playing in brutal weather conditions,” he said.
“If you are gonna sit there and tell me you weren’t impressed with the rookie year of Shedeur Sanders, I would say you weren’t watching the same game I was.”
As the Cleveland Browns look to 2026, the focus will be on pairing Sanders with a coaching staff capable of harnessing his talent. While his rookie year included franchise lows in statistical measures, the experience and resilience he gained could prove invaluable.
With support and development, Sanders has the opportunity to transform a challenging debut into a stepping stone toward long-term success in the NFL.
