The Browns entered draft weekend with a quarterback depth chart written in pencil. For fans, it’s almost like a deja vu. Remember 2014, when Brian Hoyer and rookie Johnny Manziel split first-team snaps and the offense never found rhythm? This time, it’s getting crowded fast. Deshaun Watson, still recovering from a torn Achilles, remains a looming presence, but his return is still months away. Behind him? Four healthy QBs are fighting for relevance, with five contracts bleeding into the books. That’s not a battle—it’s a bottleneck.

After the high-stakes Watson gamble backfired, the front office went back to the drawing board. This offseason, they stacked the QB room with every possible answer. They traded for Kenny Pickett. Re-signed aging hero Joe Flacco. Then drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders on Days 2 and 3. It was chaos wrapped in a plan—if there even was one. But now, through the noise, one name is cutting through: Shedeur Sanders.

A recent clip on X, posted by Ja Kai, sparked the conversation. Ocho said, “At some point, if Flacco is not playing well, Shedeur Sanders will step in and be the QB of the future. It’s how it always plays out.” That’s not speculation—it’s prophecy from someone in the loop. The Browns’ QB chart may be crowded, but the fans and voices around the team are circling one star. The whispers are growing louder, and they’re all chanting the same name: Shedeur.

Even former NFL wideout and media heavyweight Keyshawn Johnson added fuel to the fire. In an interview, he said with conviction, “It’s going to be Shedeur. I don’t know when, though. I don’t know if it’s the start of the season or three or four games into the season.” Then he doubled down with a timeline. “But before they get to the mid-season. He (Sanders) is going to be the first quarterback taking the rep.” Keyshawn didn’t flinch—he sees what’s coming. And he’s not the only one.

With heavyweights like Keyshawn in his corner and fans already calling his name, Sanders doesn’t need a head start. He just needs a chance. And when that window cracks open, expect him to bust it wide. Coach Kevin Stefanski has already hinted at what’s coming: a split of reps to start camp. Fair, yes. But also revealing. When every QB gets the same shot, the one who shines can’t be denied.

Kevin Stefanski says 25% reps is “not how it’s gonna be.”

The Browns are heading into the offseason with a four-man quarterback competition—but don’t expect it to be even. Head coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear: this won’t be a clean 25% rep split. “It’s not going to be everybody gets 25 percent of the reps, that’s not how it’s gonna be,” Stefanski said, via Pro Football Talk. Instead, the focus is on efficiency and evaluation. “We want to give everybody enough reps where we can learn more about them and prepare them to get ready to play.”

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland, the Browns still want the competition to be “as fair and efficient as possible.” But fairness doesn’t mean equal. And it probably shouldn’t. The four QBs are on very different timelines. Two are rookie draft picks. One is a seasoned vet nearing retirement. Another, Kenny Pickett, is entering just his fourth season and still has questions to answer. They aren’t in the same place, so treating them the same would be a mistake.

To help sort this crowded room, the Browns are planning a unique strategy. They’ll reportedly run two simultaneous practices, pairing off quarterbacks to maximize reps. That’s why they’ve loaded up on wide receivers this offseason—to make sure every QB has someone to work with. The idea is to speed up the decision-making process. With training camp fast approaching, time is tight, and clarity is crucial.

Right now, no one is being ruled out. Some insiders see Pickett as the favorite. Others think Joe Flacco will win the job with his experience. And then there’s Shedeur Sanders. Once viewed as a first-round talent, he slipped to the fifth, right into Cleveland’s lap. If he hadn’t fallen, the Browns wouldn’t have had the chance. But now that he’s here, the whispers around him are getting louder.