Like everyone else, Shedeur Sanders is unsure of his status for 2026 as the Browns inch closer to the top of the draft order. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor’s note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
As the Browns inch closer to the top of the 2026 draft order, time is running out for Shedeur Sanders to earn a commitment from the team as its starting QB next season.
The Browns moved into the No. 3 draft spot after losing for the 12th time in 15 games on Sunday. Sanders is 1-4 as the starter with two games to go.
There’s a good chance the Browns can finish in the top two in the draft order and be in position to select one of the top two quarterbacks – Fernando Mendoza of Indiana or Dante Moore of Oregon. Neither has officially declared for the draft because they are still involved in the college football playoffs.
In recent weeks, Sanders has made references to his uncertain status with the draft looming. On a Zoom call with media on Tuesday, he reiterated a line he’s used before.
“Nothing’s promised going into next year or anything,” he said.
I asked him if he still feels no commitment from the Browns about 2026 despite receiving praise for constant improvement from coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
“Nah, I don’t think it’s about feeling a commitment,” Sanders said. “I don’t think it’s about anything like that. It’s about controlling what you can control as a person, as a player. I think I have to do my part, you know. I think I have to do my part and get some wins. I think I have to do my part and play clean football. And the rest isn’t in my hands, so that’s really all it is.
“I don’t own the organization, so I can’t promise anything will happen. You know, I’m not God. I can’t dictate what’s going to happen each and every day, each and every minute. So, you just gotta enjoy what you do have. You gotta enjoy the present. You can’t look too deep into the future, because then you’ll miss the blessings and the lessons that you learn from the now.”
Pro Bowl honors
Defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward were selected for the Pro Bowl games. Garrett was voted a starter, although there is no Pro Bowl game, per se.
It was Garrett’s seventh Pro Bowl selection in his nine years with the Browns. Garrett is one sack away from breaking the NFL single-season sack record of 22.5. Ward’s fifth Pro Bowl selection surpassed Frank Minnifield (four) for most Pro Bowls by a Browns cornerback.
Four Browns were named as alternates: safety Grant Delpit (special teams), running back Quinshon Judkins, linebacker Carson Schwesinger and tight end Harold Fannin.
The fact three Browns rookies got mentioned “shows that we’re on the right track,” said Sanders.
No Deshaun activation
The Browns decided against putting Deshaun Watson on the 53 roster, so he will end his fourth season with the team on PUP/reserve.
It’s the third year in a row Watson ended the season on an injury list. Out of a possible 68 games since being acquired by the Browns in 2022, Watson has missed 38 because of injuries and 11 because of NFL suspension. His contract for 2026 -- the last of the five-year deal -- is fully guaranteed for $46 million.
While the Browns did not intend to play Watson this year after Sanders took over as the starting QB, the benefit of activating him would have been to have him continue practicing with the team.
“He’s done a great job with everything that’s been asked of him,” Stefanski said. “I’ve gotten to see him just work so hard, whether it’s in the training room, by himself in the indoor [facility] with the trainers, on the practice field now for the last bit. But just felt like this was the right decision for him and for us, and his focus will continue to be to help this football team and continue to get healthy and get stronger and all those types of things.”
Q on the mend
The Browns reported that Judkins underwent successful surgery on Tuesday to repair a fractured right fibula and ankle dislocation.
The surgery was performed by Head Team Physician, Dr. James Voos, and Dr. George Ochenjele, at University Hospitals. A full recovery is expected for the 2026 season with a return to football activity in 4-6 months, said the club.
Brownie bits
With Judkins out and the status of RB2 Dylan Sampson (broken hand) uncertain, the Browns’ new backfield against the Steelers will consist of Rocket Sanders and Trayveon Williams. Their hard running powered the Browns to two scoring drives in the fourth quarter against the Bills. “We ended the game with a good mix and feel comfortable with both those guys,” Stefanski said …
Ward said he was “frustrated” trainers kept him out of the Buffalo game for a second week in a row with a calf injury. “I felt I could have played, and I told them that. I think they did a great job just protecting me,” he said. “I was frustrated with the decision, honestly, but I respected it. I was able to play. We just came to a mutual agreement about giving it another week of rest. But I will be out there this week.”