With the Cleveland Browns officially out of the playoff picture and no shot at a division crown, the final stretch of the season is all about evaluation. This is the time when coaching staffs dig deep into the roster, giving younger or backup players a chance to prove they belong-not just in the league, but on this specific team moving forward. It’s a critical window to assess who might fill depth roles next year without having to spend big in free agency or use valuable draft capital to plug holes that might already have in-house solutions.
That brings us to Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders has become one of the most talked-about names in Cleveland this season, and not just because of his last name. Depending on who you ask, he’s either a breakout star in the making or a developmental project who still needs time to marinate. The truth, as it often does, probably lies somewhere in between.
Sanders has had a classic rookie roller coaster ride. Just two weeks ago, he looked like a future franchise quarterback against the Tennessee Titans-albeit a struggling Titans team.
He threw for 364 yards, tossed three touchdown passes, added a rushing score, and only turned the ball over once. It was the kind of performance that gets fanbases buzzing and front offices thinking.
But then came Week 15 against the Chicago Bears, and the wheels came off. Sanders tossed three interceptions, the offense sputtered to just three points, and suddenly the spotlight felt a lot hotter. That’s life in the NFL for a young quarterback-especially one still learning how to read advanced defenses and adjust on the fly.
Now, with a matchup looming against a top-tier AFC squad in the Buffalo Bills, the Browns have a decision to make at quarterback. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has options.
He could turn back to rookie Dillion Gabriel, a third-round pick who’s been waiting in the wings. Or, if things align just right, he might even have the option of going back to veteran Deshaun Watson.
Watson’s situation has been murky for most of the season. At one point, it seemed like he was done for the year.
But earlier this month, the Browns opened his 21-day practice window, giving him the green light to participate in individual drills. He’s been working behind the scenes at the team’s Berea facility, staying engaged with the playbook and rehabbing with the training staff.
And according to reports, he’s still got the support of the locker room.
Whether that means we’ll see Watson back under center before the season ends is another question entirely. Stefanski was asked about Watson’s status this week and kept things close to the vest:
“Yeah, I would say not my focus. For right now, I’m very pleased with the progress that Deshaun’s making on the field, in the classroom. He’s doing a really good job.”
Translation: Watson’s coming along, but there’s no urgency to rush him back-not with three games left and the season already in the books from a standings perspective. The smart play is to keep him focused on getting fully healthy for next year’s training camp.
That leaves the Browns with a clear path forward: continue evaluating Sanders and Gabriel. Sanders has shown flashes, but he’s also shown just how far he still has to go.
He’s been effective against weaker defenses, but when the pressure ratchets up and the looks get more complex, he’s struggled. That’s not unusual for a young quarterback, but it does raise questions about whether he’s ready to lead this team long-term-or even be the primary backup in 2026.
Gabriel, meanwhile, remains an unknown. He hasn’t had much of a chance to show what he can do in live NFL action. But with the Browns in evaluation mode, don’t be surprised if he gets some reps before the season wraps up.
As for Watson, his story this season isn’t about December. It’s about next July.
The Browns are hoping that when training camp opens, they’ll have a fully healthy Watson leading a quarterback room that includes a more seasoned Sanders and a developing Gabriel. The next few weeks won’t change that plan-but they could help shape the depth chart behind QB1.
So while the wins and losses may not matter much anymore, these final games still carry weight. For Sanders and Gabriel, it’s an audition.
For the Browns, it’s a chance to gather crucial intel before the offseason begins. And for Watson, it’s all about the long game.