An anonymous poll of NFL coaches and executives ranked Shedeur Sanders dead last among qualified quarterbacks.
The Athletic's Mike Sando released his annual quarterback tiers and rankings list heading into the 2026 NFL regular season. Patrick Mahomes came in at No. 1 overall, though he's no longer a unanimous Tier 1 quarterback.
“I know no one sees this list, but no one wants to be the one that takes the 1 off,” a defensive coordinator said. “He has earned that.”
But Shedeur Sanders, who is entering Year 2 of his NFL career with a chance to start under center in Cleveland, came in dead last. He was ranked No. 35 out of 35 quarterbacks.
However, some coaches are optimistic.
“Todd Monken is a great reset in the same way Ben Johnson was a great reset in Chicago,” one voter, an offensive coach, said. “Shedeur gets a fresh start with a no-nonsense, offensive-oriented coach who did a really good job with Lamar Jackson.”
The voter added: “If Shedeur has really invested in himself to be a professional quarterback, studying the playbook and knowing his assignments and being able to get the offense in and out of the huddle at an efficient clip, which he could not do last year, then there might be some upside."
© Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
Sanders was a Pro Bowler last year, after several others dropped out of the exhibition game, though he threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while completing 56.6 percent of his passes. His 18.9 QBR is among the worst in the league.
“He’s inaccurate at all three levels,” one executive said. “I can’t tell if he is going to get better, but there’s a huge gap between him and competent QB play.”
Another coach added: “I'd sleep like a baby if I got to play him every week."
Browns are having open QB competition
Sanders still has to win the job in Cleveland. Deshaun Watson is among those competing for playing time under center, too.
“Ultimately, I’m not going to decide who the starter is. They decide by their play. Their play decides who the starter is,” Todd Monken said. “I don’t have any preconceived notions of how they’re played in the past or how they’re going to play. I only can, with my eyes, judge. And guys have got to play well around them. I think we’ve shored up some things up front. We’ve added some weapons on the perimeter, so I think that’s going to help.
“But they’ll decide who plays — I don’t decide who plays, the players decide who plays.”
