Shedeur Sanders

Deshaun Watson reportedly outplayed Sanders in voluntary minicamp and holds the 'inside track' for the Week 1 starting job per multiple beat reports. Monken plans to name a starter by end of minicamp June 9-11, giving Sanders a narrow window to reverse course.

Despite finishing 2025 as the starter and earning Pro Bowl honors, new HC Todd Monken has declared the QB1 job undetermined heading into 2026, creating an open competition with Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson still on the roster.

Todd Monken has declared the QB1 job 'to be determined' despite Sanders finishing 2025 as the starter and earning Pro Bowl honors. Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel remain on the roster in an open competition.

Sanders posted alarming 2025 rookie numbers: 56.6% completion rate, 7 TD to 10 INT ratio, 23 sacks in just seven starts, and a 3-4 record. His Pro Bowl selection was as a replacement and doesn't reflect actual performance quality.

Sanders posted a franchise-worst QBR of 18.8 across 7 starts in 2025 (59.6% completion, 7 TD, 10 INT), ranking 5th-worst among QBs with 200+ passes since 2006. The raw output was historically bad for dynasty confidence, averaging just 10.6 PPG with a #37 PPR finish.

New OC Travis Switzer comes from 9 seasons with the Ravens as run game coordinator, and Cleveland already has a loaded backfield in Judkins and Sampson (combined value 7526). A run-first scheme could suppress Sanders' passing volume and dynasty upside significantly.

Deshaun Watson has suffered two Achilles tears and carries an $80.7M cap hit with massive dead cap consequences. His health concerns and declining performance (33.1 QBR since debut) create a realistic near-term path for Sanders to assume full-time starting duties.

Sanders possesses rare physical tools (arm strength, mobility) that translate well to NFL at the position. His ceiling as a passer is high if he can accelerate the learning curve in a structured environment.

Watson's dual Achilles ruptures (Oct 2024, Jan 2025) and $131M dead cap hit make him economically and physically irrelevant — Sanders is the de facto long-term starter. Browns insider Zac Jackson reported feeling 'stronger than ever' that Sanders wins the 2026 starting job.

At 24, Sanders has the age profile and arm talent to make a significant Year 2 leap under a full offseason as the presumed starter. Todd Monken is a proven passing-game architect (Georgia's elite offense), which could help Sanders develop his accuracy and decision-making.

Cleveland's assembled weapons are legitimately elite: Harold Fannin (TE, 4502 value), KC Concepcion (R1 #24 WR), Denzel Boston (R2 #7 WR), and Quinshon Judkins (RB, 4861) give Sanders one of the better supporting casts for a developing QB. This roster is built to make a young passer look good once he earns the job.

At a tier 5 value of 2873 and QB34 dynasty rankings, Sanders is priced like a marginal asset despite being 24 years old and the likely 2026 starter on an NFL roster. Dynasty community sentiment is pessimistic enough that buy-low windows exist from owners who lost patience post-rookie year.