Many of the biggest questions surrounding the 2025 NFL Draft concerned quarterback Shedeur Sanders and his readiness for the NFL.
Sanders has been one of the most polarizing quarterbacks to enter the NFL in recent years. Since the Cleveland Browns started minicamp, those who are “Team Sanders” have already taken to social media to hype up the former Colorado Buffaloes signal caller. However, one local analyst reiterated his biggest pre-draft concern, noting that it is too soon to declare him QB1.
Browns Analyst Urges Patience As Shedeur Sanders Impresses in Non-Contact Drills
Sanders was battling No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward early in the offseason for the top spot in the draft. While certainty about Ward only grew, the uncertainty about Sanders also did, causing him to plummet down many mock draft boards.
The Browns only added fuel to the fire by drafting Sanders in the fifth round, after they had already chosen Dillion Gabriel in the third. Now, with one of the strangest quarterback rooms in history, including Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco and Deshaun Watson, along with the two rookies, everyone is trying to guess who will come out on top.
ESPN Cleveland analyst Tony Grossi, who’s been covering the team for more than 40 years, recently spoke with host Aaron Goldhammer on air. Goldhammer said that recently, there has been a sense that Sanders has “blown everyone out of the water” during mandatory minicamp.
Grossi, who’s not sold on Sanders, acknowledged his improvement:
“He’s getting better every day, he’s very coachable, very likable,” said Grossi.
Goldhammer pushed further, trying to get Grossi to acknowledge that Sanders is better than expected and doesn’t look like a fifth-round pick. Grossi feels it is too soon to start making those kinds of declarations.
“Can we wait until the pass rush and until the pads get on?” Grossi asked. “I mean, it is touch football, Aaron. And the one negative about Shedeur was what, drifting into sacks, not being able to get away without the running ability.”
In the past, Grossi has predicted that the Browns quarterback competition is not as wide open as head coach Kevin Stefanski keeps saying. He believes Stefanski is just trying to be motivating to his rookies.
He believes that Sanders, like Gabriel, will find opportunities on the team during the next four years. Grossi also predicted a strong possibility that the team will keep all four quarterbacks on the roster for the 2025 season. However, when asked when he would finally give Sanders the credit he deserved, Grossi hesitated a bit.
“I’m giving him credit; he’s doing better,” acknowledged Grossi. “But I think this is overhyping again.”
The Browns have struggled with finding a franchise quarterback. They expended a significant amount of draft capital on Watson, setting the organization back years. This has them betting, and hoping, that one of these mid to late round picks pans out for them after a bit of development time behind a former first-round pick and a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback.