Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has had one of the more tumultuous NFL rookie seasons in recent memory.
The polarizing signal-caller has been front-and-center ever since his massive draft fall, where he was expected to go in the first round but didn’t hear his name called until Round 5.
Now that he’s Cleveland’s starting QB — a role that appears to be his for the rest of the season barring any crazy, unforeseen circumstances — Sanders seems to be auditioning for the QB1 job in 2026.
“I think it’s going to be Shedeur the rest of the way because I think they do see something in him, and they want to know do they need to draft a quarterback in April,” Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot recently said.
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Few would argue that Sanders has been a lightning rod since he was drafted. Everyone seemingly has an opinion on every word Sanders says and every decision he makes.
But he’s also been entertaining in his limited action, and he presents something that fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel doesn’t: optimism the Browns can win with him under center.
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Under Gabriel, the Browns were 1-5. They’re 1-1 in Sanders’ starts, and most believe the Colorado alum has shown more upside in those appearances than Gabriel has this season.
In fact, the 23-year-old QB is one of the more popular players in the NFL — not just among rookies (Sanders led all first-year players in jersey sales this season).
Sanders’ popularity isn’t just limited to the NFL either. According to Google Trends, Sanders was the seventh-most searched person, the third-most searched athlete, behind only professional boxer Terence Crawford and PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy, and the most-searched NFL player in the world in 2025.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (No. 5), New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (No. 9) and New York Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo (No. 10) were the other NFL players in the top 10.
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (No. 8) was the most-searched NFL player in 2024, while Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (No. 1) was the most-searched NFL player in 2023.
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