The chatter around Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns has been hard to ignore this season, and it’s clear everyone has an opinion.
Sanders, a rookie quarterback taken in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, finds himself behind veteran Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel on the depth chart.
Despite his elite accuracy in college and flashes of strong play in practice, Sanders faces a long road to prove he’s ready for the NFL.
Does Shedeur Sanders Deserve To Be Cleveland Browns’ Third Quarterback?
Fans and analysts are split. Many former players and draft experts believe Sanders isn’t quite ready for the pro level yet. But his father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, and a passionate group of supporters aren’t shy about saying otherwise; they’re confident that Shedeur can handle the challenge.
Even ESPN’s Mike Greenberg admitted he’s scratching his head over the Browns’ decision.
“There was not one draft analyst who said he can’t play at all. Not one… I did nothing but look at quarterbacks and all the rest of the guys. There was not one person, go back and find one draft analyst that had Dillon Gabriel over Shedeur Sanders, so I am personally confounded,” Greenberg said.
“Go back and find one draft analyst that had Dillon Gabriel over Shedeur Sanders, so I am personally confounded,” – @Espngreeny on Gabriel going before Shedeur in the draft. pic.twitter.com/SB1TAZENmi
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) September 24, 2025
Being the third-string quarterback is tough. Sanders gets few reps in practice, as most go to Flacco and Gabriel. His chances to play in 2025 are slim unless injuries hit the top two quarterbacks.
Only Time Will Tell on Sanders’ Story in Cleveland
In the preseason, he’s shown flashes of promise, but struggles have emerged, too, including getting sacked five times in his final game, a reminder of the old habit of holding the ball too long at Colorado.
The Sanders family has been vocal about his path. Deion Sanders predicted his son would get a chance to start for the Browns this season and shared that Shedeur turned down offers to be a higher-drafted backup with teams like the Baltimore Ravens, believing Cleveland gave him the clearest path to a starting job.
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That decision has sparked debate, especially since Gabriel, drafted earlier by the Browns, sits ahead of Shedeur.
The discussion isn’t going away anytime soon. Analysts like Greenberg are puzzled, fans are divided, and the Browns have their own plan. For Shedeur Sanders, it’s a test of patience, perseverance, and talent. The only certainty? Everyone will be watching when his opportunity finally comes.
