The Cleveland Browns are basking in the glow of a deeply significant road victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, a win that has fundamentally shifted the outlook of their season and, perhaps, the future of the franchise.
With rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders making history in his first start, and defensive end Myles Garrett continuing his pursuit of immortality, the narrative around the team has shifted dramatically.
A few short weeks ago, the conversation was dominated by draft positioning and coaching security. Today, it’s about the ceilings of their two brightest stars and the future composition of the roster. This sudden change in fortune raises three pivotal questions that will define the rest of the 2025 season and shape the team’s long-term trajectory.
From the legitimacy of a “legendary” rookie to the debate over defensive dominance in the MVP race, the Browns are becoming one of the more fascinating teams in the league.
1. Is Shedeur Sanders Already Legendary?
Browns defensive tackle Maliek Collins was quoted as saying of the new signal-caller, “He [Shedeur Sanders] wants to be legendary. He wants to be great.”
Well, one start into the young man’s career, and he has already made history. Sanders is the first Browns rookie quarterback since 1995 to have won his first start, a feat that immediately grants him a unique place in franchise lore. As for his status as a legend, the conversation surrounding him has already reached the highest levels of cultural commentary.
The President of the United States weighed in on the matter, posting “I TOLD YOU SO” after the victory, referencing his message from April when Sanders fell out of the first round. At the time, the President stated Sanders should be “picked IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN.”
While Sanders’ story is still in its opening chapter, his cultural impact, and the attention he commands, is undoubtedly real.
2. Does Myles Garrett Deserve MVP Votes?
“Dominant” barely scratches the surface of Myles Garrett’s performance against the Raiders. He was a wrecking ball on Sunday, tallying three sacks on 11 total pressures, including a pivotal strip-sack.
Garrett has now shattered the Browns’ franchise single-season sack record of 16, a mark he previously set in 2021, by reaching 18 sacks in just 11 games. With six more games left to play, he is now on a remarkable pace to break the official NFL single-season record of 22.5 sacks, held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.
While the Most Valuable Player award typically favors quarterbacks, Garrett’s unprecedented production is a rare display of transcendent defensive impact. If he maintains this record-breaking pace, he will force a serious conversation about a non-offensive player deserving the league’s top individual honor.
3. What Does This Win Mean For The 2026 Draft?
According to Tankathon, the Cleveland Browns would be picking sixth overall if the season ended today. With only two or three quarterbacks worthy of a first-round pick likely to declare after this college season, the team may find itself out of reach of a premium signal-caller.
However, the season does not end today, and the team still has to play the Tennessee Titans, who currently hold the league’s worst record, early in December. A win against them would almost guarantee that the Browns will be outside of quarterback range for the top talents.
This leaves the front office with three distinct options.
First, they can move up in the draft, utilizing their second first-round pick via Jacksonville, but this would deplete the capital needed to address other foundational needs.
Second, they could stick with the pick they land on and take the best talent that falls to them, such as a top offensive lineman or edge rusher.
The third option is to trade back, which is the least likely scenario as it requires a motivated trade partner, and with the general lack of blue-chip talent projected in this class, a partner will be difficult to find.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns vs. Raiders: 3 questions after Cleveland’s win in Sin City
Reporting by Lane Dobbins, Browns Wire / Browns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
