Another year, another question mark under center in Cleveland. As 2026 approaches, the Browns still don’t have a clear answer at quarterback, and the uncertainty feels all too familiar. Much like the 2025 season, a rotation of quarterbacks could once again become the norm. And with new head coach Todd Monken now in charge, the quarterback carousel might not shift as fast as fans expected, even if fans were hoping for stability.

“Like any position on the team, that’s still to be determined,” the coach said when asked about the QB position during his introductory press conference. He did not confirm if Sanders would be the starter. “Am I excited about Shedeur? Am I excited about all the quarterbacks in the room? Am I excited to coach this football team? Absolutely. I can’t wait for them to get back and for us to get started.”

Cleveland has young options in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, but the biggest question still looms over Deshaun Watson. He remains under contract for 2026 and quietly worked his way back to practice late last season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon more than a year ago. Though he hasn’t appeared in a game since October 2024, he remains the most experienced option in the quarterback room. All that said, Sanders might have an edge over Gabriel and Watson next season.

Back in the 2025 draft, Monken was still running the Ravens’ offense, and Baltimore had its eye on Sanders with the No. 141 overall pick. But Sanders saw the situation clearly. With Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, he didn’t want to spend his early years buried in the depth chart. So, the Colorado Buffaloes ultimately fell to the Browns at pick No. 144. And that, in hindsight, set the perfect stage for Monken to coach Sanders.

“Obviously, we had an affection, like a lot of teams, for Shedeur’s skill set and what we thought he could become,” Monken said in the press conference. “But I really wouldn’t want to go in-depth into another team’s [Ravens] process.”

To add to it, when Cleveland began the search to replace former head coach Kevin Stefanski, the franchise knew that whoever took the job would inherit a complicated quarterback situation. Reports indicated that coaching candidates were asked about their approach to developing Shedeur Sanders. However, General Manager Andrew Berry pushed back on the idea that the question was Sanders-specific, explaining it was meant to gauge how candidates viewed developing the quarterback position as a whole.

Eventually, Monken bagged the job, and while the coach loves that he will have an opportunity to work with Sanders in Cleveland, that doesn’t necessarily mean he will be the starter. In fact, the team will likely not announce a starter until the next season, something they kept under wraps in 2025, too. And Shedeur Sanders understands this.

Not long after Monken wrapped up his introductory press conference, Sanders appeared on the Up & Adams Show. When asked about his new head coach declining to name a starting quarterback, Sanders’ response showed maturity.

“I mean, that’s what’s expected,” Shedeur said. “I think, each and every day, I have to prove to everybody and to myself also. So, it’s kind of like having goals and accomplishing these goals, whether it’s small goals, and small goals will end up to long-term success.

“He’s real cool,” Sanders said about the coach. “I’m thankful to have Coach Monken and being able to connect with him and get his perspective of ball, see how he sees the game.”

The quarterback entered the league intending to start for Cleveland in 2025. It wasn’t a smooth ride, and the QB1 role wasn’t handed to him. Still, he won his first NFL start later in the season, and it didn’t take long for the Browns to name him the starter for the remainder of 2025. Whether he ultimately wins the job in 2026 remains to be seen. One thing, however, is already on his résumé: a Pro Bowl selection, a nod that, understandably, raised a few eyebrows along the way, considering his modest numbers.

Shedeur Sanders’ Pro Bowl selection raised eyebrows

Shedeur Sanders earned his first Pro Bowl selection. But as soon as the news surfaced, the decision drew immediate criticism. The pushback has come from multiple angles. Part of it is tied to Sanders himself, and part of it is tied to the growing debate over what the Pro Bowl actually represents now.

The first issue centers on production. In seven starts (eight games played) during his rookie season, Sanders threw for just seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions. Those numbers alone made the selection hard to swallow for many fans, especially when viewed in isolation. The criticism widened when it became clear Sanders was named as a replacement.

Several quarterbacks who outperformed him statistically weren’t available. Drake Maye is preparing for the Super Bowl on Sunday. Josh Allen and Justin Herbert reportedly bowed out due to injury concerns. On top of that, quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Trevor Lawrence, Aaron Rodgers, and C.J. Stroud reportedly declined their invitations altogether.

With so many top names unavailable, the AFC quarterback pool was thin. And that reality fueled much of the backlash.

Additionally, for many fans, the frustration isn’t just about Sanders. It’s about the perception that the Pro Bowl’s significance has eroded when elite players opt out year after year. But for Sanders, the moment is “surreal.” While the criticism remains loud, driven by both his modest rookie numbers and the absence of many of the league’s biggest stars, a Pro Bowl selection isn’t something he would have predicted after his NFL draft stock plummeted earlier.