Shedeur Sanders has turned heads during his short time with the Cleveland Browns and will enter training camp with everything still on the table in the quarterback race.
The Browns selected Sanders in the fifth round of this year’s draft, ending his ghastly slide. Sanders was projected to be an early first-round pick but fell for a variety of reasons.
The Browns have yet to release a depth chart, but Sanders has functioned like the No. 4 quarterback in offseason workouts, behind Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. He’s worked mostly with backups but he’s “come on strong,” per Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com
“After a bit of a slow start in spring practices, Sanders has come on strong over the past two weeks with plenty of completions, touchdown passes and grasp of the scheme,” Cabot said. “Granted, he’s still the fourth-team quarterback and has a long way to go. But he’s made significant strides during recent organized team activities and the mandatory minicamp, remaining alive in the competition.”
Shedeur Sanders Still ‘Longshot’ to Start for Browns
Cabot admitted that while Sanders seizing the starting job for Week 1 remains a long shot, the former Colorado standout hasn’t been ruled out and could still factor into the mix.
“He’s still a longshot to start on opening day, but if he knocks the Browns’ socks off during the preseason, he’ll at least remain in the conversation,” Cabot said. “It’s more likely that he’d make his way onto the field later in the season, but no one has been ruled out yet in the four-man competition among veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Sanders.”
While many fans are clamoring for him to take over immediately, Sanders is in no rush, instead expressing a patient and measured approach.
“My goal is to be the best teammate and to be as prepared as I can be,” Sanders said during minicamp. “So in every aspect I view things as I’ve got time — time to be able to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of defenses, be able to get the good insight from the vets in the (quarterback) room.
“I’ve got time to actually be able to really have a great understanding of things, and whenever it is time for me to play, then it’s time for me to play. But I’m not looking too far into the future about all that. I’m looking at every day in practice. I had some misses out there today that we’ve got to go in there and correct — reads, getting in and out of drops a little bit faster from under center. So that’s the main thing. I’m focused on the small things, and over time, the big things will happen.”
Sanders, Gabriel ‘Undoubtedly’ Will Make Browns Roster
The Browns are unlikely to keep four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. However, Cabot believes both Sanders and Gabriel are safe.
“The good thing for Gabriel and Sanders, who will both undoubtedly make the team, is that they’ll get plenty of playing time in the preseason, considering the Browns will conduct joint practices before their preseason opener in Carolina Aug. 8, and their second preseason game in Philadelphia Aug. 16,” Cabot said. “If the rookies knock it out of the park in those joint sessions and games, they’ll remain in the starting conversation.”
If the Browns plan to keep both rookies on the active roster, it could put either Flacco or Pickett on the hot seat. Depending on how the competition unfolds, the team will likely explore trade options for one of the veterans.
