Latest Browns’ Arch Manning Talks Give Tough Outlook for Shedeur Sanders

In some sense, one could argue that the Cleveland Browns lucked out a bit by drafting Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round. Many considered him to be the second-best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft by a wide margin, but for whatever reason, he fell. 

It remains uncertain what exactly happened throughout the draft process, but some have suggested that Sanders had poor interviews with teams, while others were concerned about his off-the-field situations, given his father and other scenarios. Ultimately, however, he was drafted by the Browns in the fifth round.

And some believe that could be short-lived, including Colin Cowherd, who recently stated that Jimmy Haslam, the Browns’ team owner, is looking to draft Arch Manning next year. 

“The Mannings are royalty to Jimmy Haslam. Jimmy Haslam also loves headlines,” he said. “That’s why he pushed to draft Johnny Manziel and Baker Mayfield. They were the most talked about quarterbacks. It’s why he signed a ridiculous guaranteed contract for Deshaun Watson. It would get discussed.

“So this is not a conspiracy theory, OK? The circle of trust for Jimmy Haslam is the Manning family and Jimmy Sexton. Sabans, Manning, Haslam, South. That’s what I’ve said,” Cowherd stated, before later reiterating: “this story is a poorly kept secret.”

Will Manning Be Available in the 2026 Draft?

Manning, of course, would be an intriguing get for the Cleveland Browns. However, it isn’t a guarantee that he’ll even come out in the draft next year. 

For now, the Browns have Sanders and four other quarterbacks on their roster, and that’s something they have to figure out. 

According to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi, all of the healthy quarterbacks will get an opportunity to compete for the Browns’ starting quarterback job this summer. That even includes Sanders, despite some other reports suggesting otherwise. 

“Browns veterans reported Tuesday for the start of training camp and soon Cleveland’s quarterback competition will be underway. While quarterback Deshaun Watson remains sidelined by a right Achilles tendon injury that landed him on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and is expected to keep him out for most of the 2025 season, four players — Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders — will compete to be the Browns’ starting quarterback this fall,” he wrote.

Sanders’ Chances at Being the Starting Quarterback

For what that could mean for Sanders and the Cleveland Browns, Oyefusi added that the Browns have been impressed with him both on and off the field during the first few months of his time in the organization. 

However, he later noted that he wonders if that could mean he’s done enough to get an opportunity to start one day.

“While Sanders was once believed to be one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft, he surprisingly fell to the fifth round, where the Browns selected him with the 144th pick. Now in Cleveland, Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, seemingly faces an uphill battle in a crowded quarterback room…

“The Browns have been impressed with Sanders, both on the field and within the building, but did he do enough in the spring to get practice time with the starters?”

If the Browns plan to draft Manning, if that’s how everything plays out, it’d effectively end any hope of Sanders being the long-term quarterback in Cleveland.