Shedeur Sanders wants to give Cleveland Browns fans ‘something to hope for’

Shedeur Sanders said he’s “built for this moment” ahead of his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns. Despite being passed on for over four rounds during the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders is confident that he can be the answer for the Browns’ long-standing history of rotating quarterbacks.

Sanders expects the success he enjoyed in college to follow him into the NFL. He was confident in his prediction when speaking with Browns broadcaster Nathan Zegura during an interview released after rookie minicamp.

“I understand, really, I feel like the Browns fans, they just want something to hope for, and they’ve been wanting it so long,” Sanders told Zegura. “So finally, you know, I’m here to change that. I’m here to, you know, actually give what they want.”

The Cleveland Browns have won one playoff game since being reactivated in 1999, and have played in just four playoff games over that span. The lone victory came in 2021 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, though, would lose in the divisional matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Cleveland made the playoffs one time since (2024) but has not enjoyed sustained success at the quarterback position in the last two decades.

With Sanders coming in, he’s not guaranteed the starting job, either. He was drafted behind teammate Dillon Gabriel and also faces competition from the other three quarterbacks on the roster — Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett — all three of which have experience as starting QB in the NFL. It goes without saying that Sanders is not guaranteed the starting job this offseason, but can play himself into that role during training camp.

“That’s kind of like how my pops (Deion Sanders) is, you know, everything was earned,” Shedeur Sanders continued. “So, the most he was able to do for us is give us the opportunity to play the game, to have resources and stuff. From then on, it’s about what you do with it. That’s why I’m grateful for the opportunity.

“That’s all I needed. That’s why I thank coach (Kevin Stefanski) and everybody [who is] a part of the franchise and everything, but I know what I’m gonna do with it.”

Sanders and the rest of the Browns draft class wrapped up rookie minicamp over the weekend, officially beginning the offseason slate for Cleveland’s group of rookies and undrafted hopefuls. They’ll get another opportunity to prove themselves when OTA’s begin May 27 and will continue through June 6.