Shedeur Sanders entered the offseason behind Deshaun Watson in Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken’s quarterback hierarchy. However, Monken made it official this week, naming Watson the Browns’ Week 1 starter, sparking plenty of debate.
As the noise threatened to envelop Sanders’ career, his mother, Pilar, took the opportunity to remind the world exactly what kind of quarterback her son is.
Pilar Sanders Reminds Everyone of Shedeur’s Explosive Potential
Heading into his second season in Cleveland, Sanders found himself immediately competing with Watson for the Browns’ starting quarterback position. The young quarterback showed flashes of promise through two preseason games, but Watson ultimately convinced Monken that he was the better choice to open the season.
With the fallout fiercely debated, Sanders’ mother made sure to serve a timely reminder of what her son is capable of when he gets into a rhythm. On Instagram, Pilar shared a highlight reel of a memorable performance from Sanders’ college career, highlighting his spectacular 348-yard, four-touchdown outing in Colorado’s 2023 victory over Colorado State.
That performance showcased Sanders at his best and demonstrated how dangerous he can become when he plays with a chip on his shoulder.
After producing a standout college career at Colorado, Sanders was widely viewed as a potential first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, his draft night went sideways as he slipped to #144.
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Once he arrived in Cleveland, Sanders found himself buried on the depth chart behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel. However, when the opportunity eventually came his way, the young quarterback attempted to make the most of it.
Sanders finished the season with 1,400 passing yards and seven touchdowns while throwing 10 interceptions. Despite getting his opportunity, he ranked second-to-last in PFN’s QB Impact Metrics. The only quarterback to fare worse was Cam Ward.
This offseason provided Sanders with an important opportunity to change his standing in Cleveland. Watson shared first-team repetitions with him throughout the offseason, training camp, and preseason, giving Sanders a legitimate chance to challenge the veteran for the starting role.
The young quarterback reportedly looked much sharper during training camp and appeared to emerge as a genuine threat to Watson in the Browns’ quarterback competition. However, for now, Monken is leaning toward Watson because of the veteran quarterback’s experience.
While Sanders will begin the season as a backup, his development and the uncertainty surrounding Cleveland’s quarterback situation could still give him a chance to take over the starting role at some point this year.
