If Shedeur Sanders loses Browns QB competition, a trade could be possible

As the 2026 preseason kicks off for the Cleveland Browns, the team is still uncertain about their starting quarterback position. Freshman quarterback Shedeur Sanders is in a race against veteran Deshaun Watson for the starting gig. Despite Sanders' talents, he has been struggling with some key aspects of the quarterback position, such as presnap and progression skills.

Given his draft position, the team is not overly committed to him, but they are giving him a chance to prove himself. If Sanders displays solid play during the preseason but fails to outperform Watson, it's possible the Browns may choose to trade him. The most likely trade candidates would be a safety or defensive end, as they are positions of contention with depth on both teams. The Browns would likely seek a bubble defender for Sanders, depending on the situation.