Shedeur Sanders arrived in Cleveland as the quarterback fans wanted under center, but Deshaun Watson has made that debate nearly impossible to revisit, and Todd Monken’s decision to stick with his veteran has the Cleveland Browns playing like a different team than most expected.
Following a 34-10 season-opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Watson has guided Cleveland to three straight wins, the latest a 27-24 escape in Pittsburgh on Thursday that lifted the Browns to 3-1 and first place in the AFC North. Watson has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 855 yards and six touchdowns on the season, numbers that make Cleveland’s crowded quarterback room harder to justify.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported this week that the Browns would “probably welcome a deal at the right price” for Sanders or fellow backup Dillon Gabriel before the November 10 trade deadline, with the Giants’ recent trade for J.J. McCarthy giving suitors a realistic price point.
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3 Potential Landing Spots For Shedeur Sanders
Three teams in particular stand out as places where Sanders could land before the deadline, each shaped by its own quarterback uncertainty.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is down to its third option after Baker Mayfield’s dislocated thumb sidelined him for three weeks, with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels completing zero passes in relief. Head coach Todd Bowles says the Buccaneers are exploring options, and a sixth-round pick for a seven-start QB could be an easy call.
Miami Dolphins
Miami needs more than a short-term fix, with Malik Willis completing just 57 percent of his throws for a 74.1 rating and De’Von Achane now out for the season. The winless Dolphins could spend a fifth-round pick to see if Sanders, cheaply signed through 2028, fits their future.
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona has been living year to year at quarterback since releasing Kyler Murray in March, pairing veteran Jacoby Brissett with rookie Carson Beck while Mike LaFleur publicly criticizes the passing game. A sixth-round pick could give the 1-2 Cardinals another arm to evaluate.
Sanders’ rookie season hasn’t sparked a bidding war on its own, as the fifth-round pick finished 3-4 across seven starts while throwing for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
Any offer that lands on Cleveland’s desk before the November 10 deadline figures to stay modest, regardless of which team ends up making the call.
The Browns will head to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, October 11, for a 1 p.m. ET matchup against the Jets.
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