The hits keep coming for Cleveland Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders.
When reality is staring you in the face and all evidence points to that reality, you need to accept it. To Sanders’ credit, the man has been professional about each setback. Not everyone is built to keep a smile on their face and diligently work their behind off after experiencing the sort of fall from grace he has.
What Does the Cleveland Browns Depth Chart Say About Shedeur Sanders’ Standing?
It’s not great for Sanders, who must keep a brave face.
He’s the fourth man behind first-stringer Joe Flacco, second-stringer Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Full Browns unofficial depth chart https://t.co/ysBLUsjdFQ pic.twitter.com/Ag2hWm688K
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) August 4, 2025
Still, not all is lost. Preseason games don’t start until Thursday, Aug. 7, and Pickett and Gabriel are dealing with hamstring injuries. That could open up plenty of snaps for Sanders in the meantime.
But if you read between the lines, the Browns view Sanders more as a project than a legit starting option.
It’s worth remembering that nearly a month of training camp and three preseason games remain. Sanders has been working with the third team, but even if he only plays in the second half of the Browns’ preseason contests, those are still live reps.
None of the quarterbacks behind Flacco have separated themselves from each other, and Flacco is looking increasingly like he will be the Browns’ starter to begin the regular season.
For Sanders, at least the depth chart gives him some clarity. Now he knows exactly where he stands.
The Browns’ quarterback battle is starting to look like a one-man race. In addition to the injuries to Pickett and Gabriel, Sanders is dealing with some arm soreness. The smart play may just be to roll with Flacco.
This is not to say that Flacco is the ideal situation either.
He’s experienced and led the Browns to a playoff appearance in 2023. He came off the couch and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, but he went 1-3 for the Colts as a starter in 2024. He passed for 1,167 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions. He was also a statue in the pocket and was sacked 13 times.
The reality for Cleveland is that this is a placeholder year for the franchise, with most analysts predicting they’ll finish the year with a pick near the top of the 2026 NFL Draft.
