Shedeur Sanders’ selection to the 2026 AFC Pro Bowl roster, as a replacement for Drake Maye, has shocked the entire football world. The controversial announcement came after the Cleveland Browns’ rookie recorded 10 interceptions and 7 touchdowns in his debut season.
Fans and sports experts are questioning how a rookie who has more interceptions than touchdowns, with a 68.1 passer rating, could make a roster, even as an alternate.
Sanders was picked in the fifth round after Dillon Gabriel was released due to a knee injury. In his eight appearances, Sanders threw for 1,400 yards and finished with a 3-4 record as a starter.
Despite having modest statistics, his popularity among fans lifted him to the roster as a replacement.
Along with Drake Maye, some of the top quarterbacks, like Justin Herbert and Josh Allen, are also missing the event due to injuries.
Shedeur has actually beaten his father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who did not make a Pro Bowl until his third season.
Critics have called the move a “marketing-driven” choice but for the Browns, it marks their first Pro Bowl quarterback since 2008. Sanders will join the AFC squad in San Francisco next week for the skills competition and flag football game.
