Will the Cleveland Browns Trade Their 24-Year-Old Quarterback in 2026?
He may not be a big name outside of Cleveland sports media, but veteran radio show host and the leading voice of ESPN Cleveland, Tony Rizzo, has made headlines once again for his big mouth. Rizzo, who once threatened to run people over with his car during the infamous 0-17 parade after the Browns finished without a single win nearly a decade ago, and was arrested in 2013 on domestic violence charges, has made a career out of enraging listeners and fans for decades. The latest opinion and so-called “inside scoop” that made people remember Rizzo’s name was something he said earlier this week, revolving around Cleveland’s most recognizable player. According to him, general manager Andrew Berry and his front office are fielding “ongoing calls about the availability of Shedeur Sanders,” and not only that, but Rizzo also said that “the Browns, for whatever reason, don’t think he’s that guy.” In the same breath, the 65-year-old said that this was his opinion, not necessarily saying this was an inside source telling him this.
This comment triggered a full-blown wildfire, to no one's surprise. From well-renowned Browns’ beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot and her column in the Thursday print edition of “The Plain Dealer” to former Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy loudly exclaiming that Cleveland needs to “Let Shedeur go” on his late-night sports talk show, Rizzo got the reaction he was likely hoping for. It’s not enough that the national media desperately wants a famous figure like the 2025 Pro Bowler to leave the dreary franchise that is the Browns; now it’s the local stations that seem to be sowing discord. Unfortunately for all parties involved, if Browns fans are to trust head coach Todd Monken, the 24-year-old signal caller will be staying in Cleveland for the foreseeable future.
For starters, the former Colorado Buffalo has been turning heads all offseason long. The completion percentage is up, new wide receiver prospects in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston have been building chemistry with the ‘Young King’, and the one detail that detractors like Rizzo won’t like-he’s maturing. The on-field product is completely different for a reason. Beyond that, there is a budding connection between the rookie head coach and the second-year quarterback. Unlike last summer, Monken is actually giving the young quarterback a chance to be the Week One starter, which former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski refused to do. The former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator has refused to name a starter heading into July, and has suggested that the search for Cleveland’s newest opening day leader will linger into August. In the rest of the position group, Monken has two players in Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green, who have virtually zero chance of opening the season as Cleveland’s starter. Then, there’s veteran Deshaun Watson, who obviously has the experience and stats over the younger quarterbacks, but hasn’t been reliable on and off the field since 2020. No matter what any radio host or former player turned talking head says, the answer is simple: Cleveland needs Sanders, whether he’s the Week One starter or not.
