Shedeur Sanders, a rookie quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, has been selected for the Pro Bowl as a replacement player.
Sanders, who was picked in the fifth round of the draft, is now the first player drafted that late to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie since Puka Nacua with the Los Angeles Rams.
The quarterbacks originally chosen for the Pro Bowl from the American Football Conference (AFC) were Josh Allen from the Buffalo Bills, Justin Herbert from the Los Angeles Chargers, and Drake Maye from the New England Patriots. Maye’s participation is affected because the Patriots are headed to Super Bowl LX after winning the AFC Championship against the Denver Broncos, opening the door for Sanders.
Sanders began the season not as the starter for the Browns but earned his place during the latter half of the season. He started the remaining seven games and helped the team achieve a 3-4 record in those games.
Over eight games, Sanders completed approximately 56.6% of his passes, gaining 1,400 yards. He threw seven touchdowns but also had 10 interceptions.
Sanders achieved a milestone as the first Browns quarterback to win his first start since 1995. This victory was a 24-10 win against the Las Vegas Raiders, played away from home. Although his stats weren’t outstanding initially, Sanders showed progress as he became more comfortable in his role as a starter.
Looking ahead, Sanders aims to improve, particularly regarding the interceptions he threw, which led the league during the last eight weeks of the season.
The Browns organization is also focused on improving the overall team.
While being selected for the Pro Bowl is a significant achievement, Sanders’ future role with the team in 2026 is not yet guaranteed. Browns General Manager Andrew Berry mentioned after the season that the team is not committing to any specific quarterback at this time.
Berry stated, “We’re going to evaluate all options in the quarterback market. It’s a crucial position, and we need to ensure we have a solid plan.”
Before the Browns can address the roster, they need to find a new head coach. Their previous coach, Kevin Stefanski, was let go and has since become the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons. He was the second head coach to be hired during this offseason, following John Harbaugh, who joined the New York Giants.
The Pro Bowl selection marks a positive end to a season that saw Sanders facing various challenges and adjustments as a rookie in the NFL. His performance in the Pro Bowl will be watched closely as he seeks to solidify his position within the Browns organization.
