Shedeur Sanders’ name is already surfacing in trade chatter, and the timing is what makes it notable. Less than a month after he lost the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback battle to Deshaun Watson, the second-year passer could be on the move before the deadline.
Watson’s run has changed the picture quickly. Cleveland has won three straight games and sits at 3-1, which naturally raises the pressure on any quarterback who isn’t locked into the future. That’s where Sanders comes in: not as a finished product, but as a developmental option who may now be easier to shop.
The quarterback market around the league only adds fuel. Teams such as the ones dealing with injuries to Caleb Williams, Jaxson Dart, Jayden Daniels and Baker Mayfield could be forced to look for help, and Sanders is at least in the conversation. ESPN’s Dan Graziano put it this way: "Shedeur Sanders could be interesting to teams looking for a developmental QB who needs a change of scenery," ESPN's Dan Graziano reported on Sunday.
Sanders still has a lot to prove as a long-term answer in Cleveland. As a rookie fifth-round pick last season, he completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while also adding 169 rushing yards and a score.
There’s also a real chance the Browns are willing to move on. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said during the week that he expects the team to be open to trading either Sanders or Dillon Gabriel. If Cleveland doesn’t see Sanders as part of its future, dealing him now would make sense rather than keeping a developmental quarterback around with no clear path forward.
Of course, moving him would create another problem for the Browns. With Watson not expected to receive an extension, Cleveland would likely need to turn to a high 2027 draft pick to find another quarterback and keep building for the future.
If Sanders does become available, a few teams stand out.
The Miami Dolphins could make sense as a landing spot. Malik Willis is currently at the top of the depth chart, but he hasn’t done much to seize the job, completing less than 57% of his passes through the first three games. For a team in the middle of a rebuild, Sanders would be a relatively inexpensive bet on a quarterback who still has room to grow.
Tampa Bay is another possible fit. Baker Mayfield’s dislocated thumb has kept him out for three weeks, and the Buccaneers are leaning on undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels right now.
Daniels didn’t help his case against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3, going 0-for-3 with an interception in limited work. Todd Bowles has already said the team is exploring its options.
Arizona could also be in the mix. The Cardinals moved on from Kyler Murray in the offseason, and while Jacoby Brissett is the starter and rookie Carson Beck is there as a younger option, the team may still want another quarterback to compete and develop. With Mike LaFleur still looking for more consistency from the passing game, Sanders would give Arizona another arm to evaluate.
In Other News...
Browns Draft Class Is Creating A Debate Fans Didnt Expect
The Browns entered this draft with a clear idea of what they wanted, even after dealing away their sixth overall pick to Kansas City. Through the first four games, the class has already given Cleveland some early return, with Spencer Fano, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren all finding ways to contribute right away. Boston has stood out in particular, quickly becoming a key target for Deshaun Watson and giving the offense a young playmaker to lean on.
What has made the conversation more interesting is how uneven the rest of the class has looked by comparison. Several picks have yet to appear in regular-season action, and the Browns are also dealing with at least one player who is not currently with the team because of off-field issues. For a team that has spent years trying to nail the draft, the debate now is not just about whether Cleveland found talent, but how much of this class is actually ready to help right now. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Fans Have 4 Week 4 Games That Suddenly Matter
With Cleveland sitting atop the AFC North, the schedule in Week 4 takes on a little extra meaning for Browns fans beyond the usual scoreboard watching. The trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Rams and brought back a 2027 first-round pick also added another layer to the weekend, because every Los Angeles result now matters a little more for Clevelands long-term outlook.
So while the Browns keep an eye on the division race, there are four games in particular that could help shape both the path ahead and the value of that future draft asset. A few of those matchups can tilt the standings in ways that affect future opponents, and the Rams record is now part of the conversation too, which gives this otherwise early-season slate a very Browns-specific twist. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Verse Is Facing An Early Browns Problem He Has To Fix
Jared Verse arrived in Cleveland with plenty of attention after being part of the Myles Garrett deal, and the early returns have been mixed through his first four games with the Browns. His impact has shown up in flashes, with seven total pressures, two quarterback hits, five hurries and four run stops, but for a player expected to help change the look of the defense, those numbers have landed below the standard the Browns were hoping for.
Verses edge has never been in doubt, and his intensity has been part of what made him such an intriguing addition in the first place. But the emotional weight of the move and the expectations that came with it appear to be part of the challenge now, as Cleveland waits to see whether his production starts matching the reputation that followed him in. [Read more 🡒]