In the 2025 NFL season, Myles Garrett made history by setting a new single-season sack record, but the Cleveland Browns struggled to find success as a team. A major focus was the quarterback position, where rookie Shedeur Sanders stepped in as the starter in November amidst a turbulent season. Garrett publicly supported Sanders as the Browns’ future at quarterback.
Sanders’ Rookie Campaign and Performance Analysis
During his first NFL season, Shedeur Sanders appeared in eight games, accumulating 1,400 passing yards with seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions. According to PFSN’s QB Impact metric, Sanders rated 56.96, ranking 46th out of 48 qualified quarterbacks, highlighting the challenges he faced in his debut season.
The Browns also retained veteran Deshaun Watson, who did not play in 2025 but remains signed for the upcoming 2026 season, adding complexity to the quarterback situation. Despite this, Myles Garrett made it clear he believes Sanders deserves the chance to be the team’s primary quarterback moving forward.
Garrett’s Clear Support for Sanders’ Role
Garrett spoke about the quarterback spot during an appearance on Micah Parsons’ podcast, stating,
“That’s who we are looking at as the guy,”
while emphasizing,
“We are going to give him a shot to prove that he’s the guy.”
Originally projected as a top quarterback prospect, Sanders surprisingly slipped to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft before joining the Browns. The team initially started Joe Flacco, a seasoned veteran, who was later traded to the Cincinnati Bengals. Following Flacco, rookie Dillon Gabriel took over but faced difficulties and injuries, which opened the door for Sanders to finish the season as the starter.
Garrett added,
“(Shedeur) was the last person to be on the field, and he showed some flashes,”
continuing,
“So we’re going to give him an opportunity to show what he can do.”
Outlook for Browns’ Quarterback Depth and Draft Prospects
Although the Browns hold two first-round picks in the 2026 draft, experts expect that the upcoming draft class lacks quarterback depth. This situation likely means the team will rely on Sanders and Watson to compete for the quarterback position through the next season.
Myles Garrett’s Historic Defensive Season and Contract Status
Myles Garrett featured in all 17 games during 2025, recording 60 tackles, 23 sacks, and 33 tackles for loss. His 23 sacks surpassed the previous single-season record shared by T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan, setting a new standard for elite pass rushing.
According to PFSN’s EDGE Impact metric, Garrett earned a grade of 95.6, the highest among 123 edge rushers qualified in the ranking. Notably, Garrett has now posted double-digit sack totals for eight straight seasons, underscoring his consistent dominance.
Garrett recently secured a lucrative four-year extension with the Browns just before the 2025 season, signaling the team’s commitment to him. The hope remains that with improved quarterback play and overall team progress, Garrett will have more opportunities to play in meaningful games moving forward.
🔥 Shedeur is Browns QB1. Myles Garrett. Believes in #12 💛
"That's who we are looking at as the guy. We are going to give him a shot to prove that he's the guy" https://t.co/BmSEctfOOG pic.twitter.com/aPJpbBuvhY
— JaKi 🇺🇸 (@JaKiTruth) February 8, 2026
