Shedeur Sanders spent the last part of winter living on top of the prospect world. However, as the weather got warmer, Sanders descended into his own winter. With the quarterback joining the Cleveland Browns much later than anyone anticipated, winter has come once again.
Of course, despite every team passing on him at various times in the 2025 NFL Draft before he was eventually drafted, some analysts are not giving up their beliefs in him quite so easily. One analyst in particular gave one of the most glowing reviews of the quarterback on this side of the NFL Draft yet.
Shedeur Sanders Has ‘Elite’ Skills, NFL Analyst Doubles Down
Speaking on a May 30 edition of “Maggie & Perloff,” NFL analyst Nathan Zegura gave his positive view of Sanders.
“Shedeur looks good. His ball placement is elite… I think he’s got plenty of arm strength.”@NathanZegura with glowing reviews of Shedeur Sanders in Browns OTAs
pic.twitter.com/4uznlNlJUx— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) May 30, 2025
“Shedeur’s looked good, though. His ball placement is elite. His ability to layer throws is elite,” he said. “I think he’s got plenty of arm strength. We’ve seen that on display, certainly in camp at times. There’s something about Shedeur. I got a chance to interview him. He is very confident, but not in a cocky way. Has a lot of belief in himself.”
Zegura went on to give his verdict, admitting that Sanders still had work to do.
“I like him. I like the kid a lot. … He was so tough. He got beaten up in college. I mean, absolutely annihilated behind that line. Did he develop some bad habits? Sure. … if you can be accurate with the football, deliver, and know where it’s supposed to go, you can be very successful in this league for a long time.”
Even with his offensive line making things harder for Sanders, the quarterback managed to lead the Big 12 in multiple categories, including touchdown passes and yards per attempt.
Browns’ Offensive Turmoil Places Long List of Problems at Sanders’ Feet
Either way, regardless of when he was drafted, the Browns got their rookie quarterback. However, Sanders climbed one mountain out of college only to be given another. Even if he manages to win the four-way quarterback competition (if one completely excludes Deshaun Watson), he will be rewarded with an offense that has proven little.
The Browns finished 32nd in Offense+ by PFSN in 2024, leaving the biggest of mountains for Sanders to climb should he first reach the top of the depth chart. Nick Chubb is no longer around, and Amari Cooper isn’t back in the fold this season.
Of course, Jameis Winston arguably proved that the Browns could move the ball at times, but it falls on the quarterback to duplicate and build on Winston’s fleeting example.
That is, if Sanders can win the job at all.