It’s been a bumpy ride for Shedeur Sanders less than two years into his NFL career, and it hasn’t gotten smoother yet. Sanders has had to sit on the bench to start the 2026 season, behind the infamous Deshaun Watson, though it feels like the $230 million QB’s benching is inevitable.
Regardless, Sanders may not have the best chance to succeed in Cleveland, and former Browns receiver Jarvis Landry is mincing no words about the situation.
Jarvis Landry Shares His Opinion On Shedeur Sanders’ Future with the Browns
Speaking on ESPN Cleveland’s radio show, Landry said, “I think Shedeur could be a starter in this NFL. I would say I don’t know if it’s going to be in Cleveland.
“Once decisions are made at some point, and maybe even after the season, I would say Cleveland definitely needs to go out and get a guy, right?
“I do think from what I saw from Shedeur last year to what I saw from him this year in preseason, it looks like he’s trying to play more on schedule. He’s trying to play more on time and get the ball out quickly.”
While Landry’s point about Sanders’ future in Cleveland is bold, and he’s still three years away from being a free agent as his rookie contract runs through the 2028 season, it does hold weight.
Eventually, the issues Sanders has dealt with could lead him to find a new home elsewhere.
Sanders’ Browns tenure clearly hasn’t started smoothly, and Cleveland’s decision to start Watson has left him waiting for another opportunity.
In preseason, Sanders showed promise, but whether because of internal politics and/or Watson’s massive contract, head coach Todd Monken chose the latter as the starter and kept Sanders as the backup.
It hasn’t worked out so far. Watson’s Week 1 performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars resulted in a 34-10 beatdown loss, in which he threw for 205 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while the offense looked inept for much of the game.
For his performance, PFN’s QB Impact Metric gave Watson a 62.7 grade, matching Daniel Jones for the lowest displayed grade after Week 1.
Sanders could get an opportunity to play if Watson’s poor performance continues, but the Browns’ coaching staff will decide whether to make a change.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook has predicted a quarterback change by Week 3, when the Browns host the Carolina Panthers, though Watson has a chance to rebound during Cleveland’s Week 2 visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
