Right now, there is no official announcement on who will be the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback for the 2026 season, so anything specific is still a projection rather than a locked‑in depth chart decision.

Where things stand

  • The Browns currently have Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson under contract going into the 2026 offseason.
  • Team leadership has publicly said they are not ready to name a definitive QB1 and will evaluate both internal options and possible additions over the coming weeks.

Shedeur Sanders’ chances

  • Sanders started the final seven games of 2025, went 3–4, and threw for about 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions, showing flashes but also inconsistency.
  • Several beat writers and analysts think Sanders is the early favorite or “most likely” to get the first shot at the starting job in 2026, especially if the Browns do not make a big external move at quarterback.

Why it’s still up in the air

  • The Browns are bringing in a new head coach, and the front office has said that coach will have significant input on the starting QB choice.
  • Reports suggest the team will survey the quarterback market and could draft or acquire another QB, rather than simply handing the job to Sanders or Gabriel.

Most honest “quick scoop”

  • Today, the only accurate way to phrase it is: Shedeur Sanders is the leading in‑house candidate to start, but the Browns have not committed to him, and the Week 1 starter for 2026 is officially undecided.
  • Expect updates after the new head coach is hired and the team moves through free agency and the draft; that’s when a clearer answer on “who will be the Browns starting QB” will emerge.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.