Shedeur Sanders’ Pro Bowl picks spark frustration as Todd Monken sends an early warning about Cleveland’s QB future

Shedeur Sanders expected his first Pro Bowl appearance to feel like a reward. Instead, it turned into another reminder of the one issue that has followed him since his rookie season. Sanders was called in after Drake Maye became unavailable due to Super Bowl commitments, and suddenly, he was running the AFC offense under the bright lights of flag football.

He delivered plenty of highlight moments, but two interceptions stole the attention. And Sanders did not sugarcoat it afterward. In a moment that felt raw and relatable, he vented to his brother, Shilo Sanders, on a livestream, expressing how he was not satisfied with his performance and how luck does not favor him most of the time

The interceptions were loud, but the bigger story is what happens next in Cleveland

Sanders was honest about his lackluster effort, stating, “I have the worst luck in life,” before adding, “I need every practice in the world to just figure it out. Somebody put some on me, right, that ain’t me.” On paper, Sanders’ Pro Bowl line looked impressive, and he completed 18 of 22 passes for a little over 230 yards, threw two touchdowns, and added a two-point conversion.


The accuracy popped, even in a game made for the offense, but the two picks were hard to ignore. One was snagged by Kevin Byard on a shot near the end zone. The other went to Nahshon Wright, helping the NFC keep momentum in a 66-52 win that marked a fourth straight Pro Bowl victory for that side.

Sanders finished his 2025 rookie year with 10 interceptions and only seven touchdowns in eight games. It was an impressive year for him, including a standout performance against the Titans when he threw for 364 yards and three scores. Still, Cleveland has seen talented arms come through and fall apart for the same reason.

New head coach Todd Monken, who was hired after Kevin Stefanski’s tenure ended following back-to-back rough seasons, made it clear that nothing will be handed out. He said, “Like any position on the team, that’s still to be determined,” when asked about the quarterback situation. Monken also kept the tone upbeat while leaving the door open, expressing his excitement for what the future holds for the young QB.


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