The Cleveland Browns are a team perpetually under the microscope, a franchise whose every move, from front office decisions to on-field performance, is scrutinized with a level of intensity that few other organizations can match. As training camp rolls on and the preseason begins, that scrutiny has only intensified. On August 6th, the conversation in Berea and throughout the Dawg Pound was dominated by a single name: Sanders. The announcement that Shedeur Sanders would start the first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, while perhaps a logical move given the team’s quarterback situation, has done little to quell the underlying tension and criticism that dogs the franchise.1 This opportunity, rather than being a moment of quiet celebration for a young player, has become a focal point for a fan base and media contingent still deeply skeptical of the team’s direction.
The Browns’ quarterback room has been a source of drama and uncertainty for years, and this offseason is no different. A series of injuries has once again thrown the depth chart into flux. With Deshaun Watson sidelined with a second Achilles tendon tear, his 2025 season is in serious doubt.2 Veteran Joe Flacco, a stabilizing force who led the team to an improbable playoff berth last season, is being preserved for the regular season.3 This has created a void for the young quarterbacks to fill. The team’s decision to name Shedeur Sanders as the starter for the preseason opener is, on the surface, a practical one. It’s a chance to evaluate the rookie quarterback in a live-game setting, to see how he handles the pressure of a real NFL contest.
However, the circumstances surrounding his opportunity have only fueled the fire for his critics. Sanders, a fifth-round pick, has been a lightning rod for debate since his arrival in Cleveland.4 Many in the media and fan base question his long-term potential, pointing to his draft position and the team’s decision to draft Dillon Gabriel two rounds before him. The narrative that Sanders is “being set up to fail,” as one prominent sports commentator suggested, has gained traction. This viewpoint posits that Sanders is being thrown into the fire with limited reps with the starting offense, making it difficult for him to succeed. The idea is that any poor performance in the preseason will only confirm the existing doubts about his abilities, while a strong performance might still not be enough to change the minds of those who have already made up their minds about him. The situation is a classic no-win scenario, where the outcome is unlikely to shift the pre-existing narrative.
The skepticism surrounding Sanders is not just about him as an individual player; it’s a reflection of the deeper mistrust that many have in the team’s overall strategy. The Browns’ front office, led by General Manager Andrew Berry, has made a series of high-stakes moves, most notably the acquisition of Deshaun Watson, that have yet to yield the expected results. The constant churn at the quarterback position, combined with the significant financial commitments made to Watson, has left many fans feeling that the franchise is in a precarious position. The decision to invest in multiple young quarterbacks, including Sanders and Gabriel, is seen by some as a desperate attempt to find a solution to a problem that has plagued the franchise for decades.
This cynicism also extends to the team’s veteran players. The contract situation of star wide receiver Amari Cooper is a constant source of speculation. Cooper, who is in the final year of his deal, has been the subject of trade rumors, which he has publicly dismissed. However, his struggles in the early part of the previous season and the team’s 1-3 start further fueled the speculation. The fact that the team’s best receiver is entering a contract year without a long-term extension raises questions about the team’s commitment to its core players and its long-term stability. The departure of Elijah Moore in the offseason is another point of contention. While Moore had a decent year with the Browns, he was not re-signed, and the team placed a rare unrestricted free agent tender on him, a move that some saw as a way to recoup a compensatory pick rather than a genuine attempt to keep him.5 Now with a new team, Moore is reportedly impressing his new teammates, leaving some Browns fans to wonder what might have been.
Even the joint practices with the Carolina Panthers, which were intended to be a positive development, were not without their own set of concerns. While the Browns’ official channels focused on the positive aspects of the joint session—the chance to compete against a different offense and defense, the camaraderie between the teams—there were still signs of the same old issues. The offense, at times, appeared amped up and committed pre-snap penalties, a problem that has plagued the team in the past and is a source of frustration for both the coaching staff and the fans. These small details, while seemingly insignificant, are magnified by a fan base that is on edge and looking for any sign of a crack in the foundation.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski finds himself in a difficult position. He is tasked with navigating the quarterback carousel, integrating new players, and dealing with the constant noise from the media and the fan base. His comments about the upcoming roster cuts, acknowledging that it’s a tough process because the team has a “good roster,” reflect a confidence in the depth of the team. However, the true test will come not in training camp or the preseason but in the regular season. The Browns’ final 53-man roster projection shows some interesting battles and potential surprise cuts. The defensive line is a position of strength, but a numbers game means some talented players will be on the outside looking in. The linebacker corps lacks depth, and the secondary, while talented, has a number of players vying for the final spots. These are the decisions that will ultimately define the team’s season, and they are the decisions that Stefanski and his staff are facing in a climate of high-stakes and intense scrutiny.
Ultimately, the story of Shedeur Sanders’ opportunity is a microcosm of the larger narrative surrounding the Cleveland Browns. It’s a story of a team with a talented roster and high expectations that is still burdened by its past and facing a future filled with uncertainty. While Sanders may have his chance to shine, his performance is unlikely to be the final word on the matter. The critics will always find something to criticize, and the fans, scarred by decades of disappointment, will remain cautiously optimistic at best. The Browns are building a team, but they are doing so in the relentless glare of a spotlight that magnifies every success and every failure. And as the preseason begins, that spotlight is once again focused on the team’s most vulnerable position, a position that has come to define the franchise’s tumultuous journey. The opportunity for Sanders is real, but so is the skepticism that surrounds him, and it’s a skepticism that is unlikely to be silenced anytime soon.
