When the Browns drafted Colorado Buffaloes football legend Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft, there was a question asked from all corners:
Can he be the next face of the Browns?
While the reports from OTAs and minicamp did add some weight to it, ESPN’s Tony Grossi isn’t sold.
Instead, Grossi believes HC Kevin Stefanski would rather take a gamble in drafting better QBs with the two first-round picks they have in the 2026 NFL Draft to make them their franchise QB.
The argument makes sense, especially when Sanders is currently struggling to earn a spot on Stefanski’s 53-man roster for this season.
“I tell all my listeners, and they don’t like hearing it, but the franchise quarterback is in next year’s draft,” Grossi asserted on ESPN Cleveland airwaves.
And this isn’t just bad news for Sanders alone. Dillon Gabriel’s in for it as well.
“I thought that the drafting of Shedeur complicated the whole thing. With that came the unintended consequence of him being just an overwhelming favorite, externally by all his fans and fans of Colorado,” Grossi said.
“Dillon Gabriel would shape up as the developmental guy. Yeah, a future backup and potential starter occasionally.
“This year, it is important for Gabriel and Sanders not to compete for the starting job, but to prove that they can handle the NFL way of life and potentially start next year.”
That’s precisely the advice almost all analysts have been giving Sanders and Gabriel ever since the Browns' QB room became a crowded place.
That said, bringing in more QBs will make no sense until Stefanski plans on trading some away.
Sure, there are rumors of Stefanski potentially making a trade for veteran QBs to make more room and a chance for the rookies, but the rookies getting traded down the line is equally possible.