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Did Cleveland Browns' QB Shedeur Sanders deserve a Pro Bowl nod?
Per multiple reports, Cleveland Browns' Shedeur Sanders has been named a replacement for the Pro Bowl, filling one of the open quarterback spots after a series of injuries and withdrawals reshaped the original roster.
The reaction has been loud and largely unforgiving. A small group sees the selection as recognition for a rookie dropped into a tough situation who, in their view, performed better than expected. But they’re in the minority.
A much larger group - including current NFL players - has been far less convinced about Sanders' nomination, pointing to his modest production and
The NFL Pro Bowl is a joke. Shedeur Sanders? Come on now. What’s next? Jerry Jones being named the NFL’s best general manager? Chevy Chase being the best late-night talk show host of all time?
— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) January 26, 2026 ">branding the decision a “joke”.Here, we break down whether Sanders deserved a Pro Bowl nod, stating the arguments for and against.
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How are Pro Bowl nominations made?
Before we enter into this debate, we must step back and recognise that Pro Bowl nominations are not based solely on merit.
As the official NFL site explains, “Player selections will be determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches”. And just as importantly, and as all fans know, "Fans can vote as often as they like."
For this reason, Pro Bowl nominations are as much about recognition as they are a popularity contest. Of course, the two often go hand-in-hand, but that’s not always the case.
In that sense, with a famous father like Deion and with so much hype surrounding his debut season, Sanders always had a distinct advantage over others.
But did he deserve it? Read on to find out.
Did Sanders deserve a Pro Bowl nod?
The argument for
The importance of availability must not be overlooked. Opt-outs are common, and replacements are routine.
Crucially, had the Patriots not made it to Super Bowl LX, Drake Maye would have been one of the AFC quarterbacks in the Pro Bowl ahead of Sanders, but that alone doesn't justify this choice.
The state of the Browns' offense is a more compelling argument. That conversation must start with the offensive line, arguably one of the worst in the league.
Sanders faced pressure on 131 of his 255 dropbacks. He was responsible for many of those himself, but even with the best pocket awareness, Sanders was always up against it with the likes of KT Leveston, Wyatt Teller, and Cam Robinson playing so poorly upfront.
His offensive weapons, too, were nothing to get excited about. Short of Jerry Jeudy at wideout, the Browns came into 2025 woefully short-handed. Come season's end, Harold Fannin, a rookie third-round tight end, was the most impressive of the bunch, leading the team in yards and touchdowns.
Cleveland also posed no danger on the ground after tailback Quinshon Judkins, who enjoyed a promising start to the season, tapered away down the stretch. Without an effective running game, the passing game struggled.
Despite it all, and at times, Sanders had flashes of real promise.
And while some of the problems noted above were made worse by Sanders' inability to get the passing game going consistently, it's important to note that neither Joe Flacco nor Dillon Gabriel did any better.
The argument against
Put plainly, the numbers do not justify Sanders' selection:
- 56.6% completion percentage.
- 7 touchdown passes to 10 interceptions.
- 68.1 passer rating.
- 193 passing yards per game.
- A 3-4 record as a starter.
Many analysts have discussed the progress he made over the final games, perhaps because the Browns beat the Steelers and Bengals to end the year, but the stats don't back up that assertion.
Yes, Sanders completed an impressive 73.9% of his passes in the win over Pittsburgh, but really, Cleveland has their defense to thank for the victory after scraping by in the 13-6 win.
And yes, Sanders was sacked six times when the Browns beat Cincinnati, but he completed only 50% of his passes for 111 yards and threw zero touchdowns.
- Read next | "It's a new era": Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel are writing a new chapter in Patriots' history
It's particularly telling that, looking forward, even the Browns are refusing to commit to Sanders as their starting quarterback in 2026. GM Andrew Berry recently stated, “I can’t sit here and tell you today whether the starter in 2026 is internal or external".
It’s hardly a glowing endorsement for a guy who will be mixing with the league’s best at the Pro Bowl Games on February 3.
Final thoughts
There are countless arguments over who deserved it more, including Sanders' fellow rookie, Tennessee Titans' Cam Ward. For me, that particular point comes up a little short.
The Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence would have made much more sense, but as a named Pro Bowl alternate, we must assume that he declined to participate for some reason.
In the end, Sanders’ Pro Bowl nod says less about what he's achieved, more about his popularity, and speaks to the lack of other viable options. And that, fairly or not, has always been part of the Pro Bowl equation.
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