Deshaun Watson is locked in as the Cleveland Browns’ starter for the first week of the regular season, and that decision has pushed Shedeur Sanders into the backup role, at best.
On Monday, Browns head coach Todd Monken made the call official. That leaves Sanders, now in his second year, waiting behind Watson and hoping for an opening if the starter doesn’t deliver. It also puts Sanders into the kind of spot that can start trade chatter across the league.
And there are teams around the NFL that could use a quarterback with some starting experience. Not a long résumé, but enough to make him appealing as a depth option. Three clubs stand out as possible landing spots.
The New England Patriots make sense first. Drake Maye is their guy, and the team clearly feels good about that.
But if Maye were to go down, the fallback options are thin. Tommy DeVito, who came over from the New York Giants, is sitting behind him, though his NFL work has been uneven.
Adding Sanders would give New England another capable arm and a little more peace of mind.
The Miami Dolphins are another team to watch. They’ve handed Malik Willis the QB1 job, with new head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan backing him.
The issue is what comes next. Rookie Quinn Ewers is listed as the primary backup, but a groin injury has kept him from participating lately.
Among teams with a hole at quarterback depth, Miami looks like the biggest one, and Sanders would fit as a solid backup.
Then there’s Pittsburgh. The Steelers already have four quarterbacks on the roster: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar.
That’s a crowded room, but Sanders still has appeal because of what he could mean down the line. He has flashed enough to suggest he might grow into a real NFL starter, and Pittsburgh could view him as a developmental piece for the future.
At minimum, he would give them a strong QB3 behind Rodgers and Rudolph.
In Other News...
Dolphins May Be Forced Into Another Former First-Round Gamble
The Dolphins have been trying to patch up their linebacker depth as injuries keep forcing the front office to look for short-term solutions, and Kenneth Murray is now on the workout list. Miami has already shown a willingness to circle back on former first-round talent, with Jalen Reagor and Clelin Ferrell among the names the team has brought in before, so this kind of move would fit the pattern if the staff believes there is still enough upside to tap.
Murray, once a first-round pick of the Chargers, has also spent time with the Titans and Cowboys, which makes him another familiar reclamation project rather than a clean slate. The broader market is part of the story too, since there are other unsigned former first-round free agents under 30 still sitting out there, and Miami may not be done weighing whether a familiar name is the right stopgap for a defense that needs bodies as much as it needs certainty. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Pass Rush Problem Just Got More Urgent
The Dolphins got another look at their roster depth in their second preseason game, and the picture was not especially encouraging behind the starters. The issues showed up in a few places, but the lack of options at edge rusher stood out, especially for a team still sorting through its cornerback depth and leaning on promising rookie receivers to help shape the early part of the season.
Miamis need for another pass rusher only grew more pressing when Derek Barnett chose the Cleveland Browns, leaving the Dolphins with one fewer experienced option to consider. General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has been active in managing the roster, and the next move likely comes through the waiver wire as Miami keeps looking for ways to strengthen a pass-rushing group that suddenly feels thinner than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Loss Put Jeff Hafleys Most Debated Decision Under Fire
Jeff Hafley has spent the first two preseason games trying to thread a familiar needle, keeping Miamis starters on a short leash while leaning on younger players for extended run. The idea has been straightforward enough: reduce injury risk, preserve the bigger picture and still give the roster hopefuls a meaningful chance to show what they can handle before the games start to count.
The approach has still drawn plenty of criticism from fans on social media, especially with the Dolphins looking for sharper preseason rhythm. Miami now gets one more exhibition chance against the Atlanta Falcons, and that outing could determine whether Hafley sticks with the same cautious plan or finally opens the door a bit wider for the starters. [Read more 🡒]