A Legendary Browns Mistake, or Just the Browns Being the Browns?
The Cleveland Browns are at it again. In a move that has the football world scratching its head, they’ve announced that 40-year-old Joe Flacco will be their starting quarterback for Week 1’s divisional battle against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. This, despite drafting two rookie QBs and trading for a young, Super Bowl-winning Kenny Pickett.
It begs the question: What are the Browns thinking? Are they trying to win now, or are they just… being the Browns? The decision to go with a 40-year-old veteran over a talented rookie like Shedeur Sanders—who the Browns just drafted in the 5th round—is a head-scratcher. If the Browns don’t want to play him, where could Shedeur be a good fit? Let’s take a look around the AFC, division by division, and find him a new home.
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals: A perfect insurance policy. If Joe Burrow were to go down with a serious injury, Shedeur could step in and keep the Bengals’ playoff hopes alive. He’d have an elite supporting cast with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, a solid run game, and an excellent offensive line.
Baltimore Ravens: The fit here is even better. Given Lamar Jackson’s dual-threat style and the hits he takes, the chances of Shedeur seeing the field are greater. Coach John Harbaugh knows how to manage a mobile quarterback, and Shedeur would be a perfect, affordable insurance policy.
Pittsburgh Steelers: This is the team that should have drafted Shedeur. Instead, they opted for an over-the-hill 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. They’ll be right back in this same situation next season, chasing another old QB instead of developing their own. They could correct that mistake now, at a fraction of the cost. Shedeur would be a long-term solution who could rally the “Terrible Towel” waving fans and quiet the noise of years of mediocrity under Mike Tomlin.
AFC West
Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders are seriously rolling into a division with Mahomes, Herbert, and Nix with Geno Smith as their guy? With the talent of rookie running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers, and with Pete Carroll at the helm, Shedeur could immediately lead a .500 ball club. Can you really look Maxx Crosby in the eye and tell him you’re serious about competing with Geno Smith and Aidan O’Connell at quarterback?
Denver Broncos: Bo Nix is the man in Denver. Sean Payton is committed to building around him on his rookie contract, upgrading the wide receiver talent over the next few seasons. Shedeur wouldn’t have a spot here.
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert is more than solid. Like Denver, the Chargers need to focus on upgrading the talent around their star quarterback.
Kansas City Chiefs: Would Andy Reid be an evil genius to draft and develop Shedeur as a cheap backup? After his rookie deal, assuming a fifth-year option, Mahomes would be 35 and Shedeur would be 29. Would Mahomes still be as effective as a pocket passer in his 30s? Shedeur would have fresher legs, and would he even want to play for anyone other than an offensive mastermind like Reid?
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen is to Buffalo as John Elway is to Denver. He’s an elite, all-around quarterback with no injury history. There’s no reason for the Bills to even consider a backup QB.
New England Patriots: Drake Maye is their guy. No interest.
Miami Dolphins: Miami would be a great fit for Shedeur, and the chances of him playing before Week 4 would be high given Tua Tagovailoa’s yearly injury history. And it’s South Beach! The fans would be drawn to the games and the Legendary marketing machine of the Sanders family in Miami would be a match made in heaven.
New York Jets: See above, but substitute South Beach for Broadway.
AFC South
Tennessee Titans: No chance. They went with Cam Ward with the first pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud is their future and the man has already won a playoff game in his first two years. Next!
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags should trade Trevor Lawrence for Shedeur and a first-round pick and laugh all the way to the bank. Shedeur throwing to Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas would be an exciting product, and certainly a better one to watch than Shad Khan’s son’s AEW wrestling product.
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts should go with Shedeur here over BOTH Anthony Richardson AND Daniel Jones. Sanders has more upside than both, and doesn’t handcuff the team financially. He would immediately be the best starting QB in the division, even though he wasn’t drafted that way.
In the next piece, we’ll take a look at potential fits in the NFC Divisions
