Mandatory minicamp has come and gone for the Cleveland Browns, but questions still linger around rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Cleveland selected Sanders in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, ending a surprising slide for the former projected first-rounder. Once considered a top-tier prospect, Sanders didn’t hear his name called until pick No. 144.
Now, Sanders finds himself in a crowded quarterback competition. He’ll have a chance to earn the starting job but faces stiff competition from veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, as well as third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel.
The Browns have yet to release an official depth chart, but Shedeur Sanders has primarily operated as the fourth quarterback throughout OTAs and minicamp. That status led Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport to label Sanders as one of the “losers” of the offseason workouts.
“Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders needs a hug—because it has been a rough year so far for the rookie,” Davenport said. “Considered by many a first-round prospect, Sanders’ free fall to the fifth round was the dominant storyline of the 2025 NFL draft. He was the second quarterback taken by a Browns team desperate for a solution at the position, after Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.
“That drop on draft day hasn’t alleviated the spotlight on Sanders, and one of the bigger stories of Browns’ OTAs was that while Sanders and Gabriel received most of the quarterback reps as the team attempts to see what they have in the youngsters, it was the latter who worked mostly with the starters.”
Shedeur Sanders Not Sweating Limited Work With Browns
Sanders has made the most of his opportunities, delivering solid play and striking the right tone when addressing his limited reps with the media.
“Life is just based on how you view different things,” Sanders said Tuesday after the Browns’ first mandatory minicamp practice. “So you can view things as you’re not getting reps in a negative way or you can view it as, OK, when it’s my time to get out there, let’s be proactive and let’s get warm, let’s get going.
“So, there’s no excuses because when you get out there, nobody cares how many reps you got whenever you get in the game. Nobody cares if you took a snap before. Everybody cares about production. So that’s the main thing when you get out there: You got to be able to produce.”
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has told those keeping a keen eye on the quarterback competition not to overanalyze who is at the front of the line or seeing the most work.
Browns Have Praised Shedeur Sanders
Sanders may not win the starting job for Week 1, but he’s already leaving his mark in Cleveland by doing the little things right.
“He’s a very, very hard worker; he has fun when he’s in the building. I’m enjoying watching him progress with every single meeting, with every single rep — he’s doing a great job,” Stefanski said Thursday on “Cleveland Browns Daily.” “He’s showing up early, staying late, and getting better every single day. That’s the fun part.”
Even if the Browns roll with veteran Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett to start the season — as many expect — that doesn’t mean the door is closed for Sanders. If the team struggles to win games, his opportunity could come sooner than later.
