Browns GM Andrew Berry wouldn’t commit to Shedeur Sanders as Cleveland’s starting quarterback next season.
During his end-of-season press conference Monday, which took place one day after the team’s 20-18 win over the Bengals, Berry explained that the Browns will explore the quarterback market — and it’s their No. 1 priority to find their “leader of the organization” this offseason.
“We’re going to do our work on the quarterback market. It’s too important of a position and it’s something that has to be solidified,” Berry said Monday following head coach Kevin Stefanski’s firing.
“I can’t sit here and tell you today whether the solution for, or the starter in 2026, is internal or external. But it’s something that we’re going to work through over the next several weeks. And quite honestly, the new head coach will also have a lot of input into that as well.”
Berry expanded on the quarterback position when speaking about the Browns, who currently hold the No. 6 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“I’d say quarterback is the most important position in sports,” Berry said. “We all know that. And part of the equation with quarterback is the evaluation part. Part of it is the development part, as well. It’s the most important part. It’s the hardest position to play.
“It can take time, but that’s the focus: solidifying that position. That’s the biggest thing that can lead to sustainable success. That’s priority No. 1. How we accomplish that with the combination of internal options, external veteran options, the draft, that remains to be seen, but priority No. 1 is finding the leader for the organization. That’s what our focus is on in the short term.”
In his rookie campaign, Sanders went 3-4 in seven starts, finishing 120-of-212 for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, with a passer rating of 68.1.
In his final two starts, Sanders helped the Browns to wins over Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers and Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
“I think we saw a lot of progress with Shedeur this year,” Berry said of Cleveland’s fifth-round pick from 2025. “I think that’s both mentally, physically, playing the position. He’s still very much a work in progress, like many rookie quarterbacks are.
“But I think we saw some really good things in terms of his playmaking, his accuracy, his ability to extend with his feet. And I think I’d also give him credit, as well as our offensive staff, for bringing him along in terms of his pocket management, his situational awareness and things of that nature.”
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was also non-committal about Sanders’ future in Cleveland in his Monday press conference.
“I’m not going to get into specifics. We have a lot of work to do on the roster, particularly on the offense side,” Haslam said.
The former Colorado star, 23, showed flashes of arm strength and clean mechanics in his debut season.
Sanders — the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders — also showed poise while under a microscope as he was often at the center of debates regarding his playing style and attitude.
Many questioned his relationship with Stefanski, who was fired after a 5-12 finish this season and six years at the helm.
When asked if he thinks he proved to Berry that he should be the starter in 2026, Sanders said Monday: “I think I did what I was able to do and I definitely grew from a lot of things.”
