Deion Sanders has decades of experience dealing with the media. To paraphrase a well-known Bane quote from “The Dark Knight Rises,” Deion adapted to the media spotlight. Shedeur Sanders was born into it.
But being accustomed to the media doesn’t mean someone is immune to feeling the pressure. One of Sanders’ new teammates made it clear how he thinks Sanders is managing the spotlight, even in what could become a survival situation with the Browns.
Shedeur Sanders’ Teammate Assesses Whether Cleveland Browns QB Can Handle Outside Pressure
Speaking on a recent edition of “Good Morning Football,” Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II shared his thoughts on the rookie quarterback and gave credit where he thought it was due.
“He’s been amazing,” Newsome said. “A sponge, I would say. It’s just crazy that a guy this young with this much notoriety can just handle media and things like that. I think his dad has really taught him how to be that guy in the spotlight and understand… what comes with it, and I think he’s been doing an incredible job of just learning and getting better each day.”
While Sanders’ rise has been mostly smooth, his unexpected slide in the 2025 NFL Draft marked the first real bump in the road. It was a stumble, but Sanders still has a shot to stick the landing. The margin for error, though, is slim.
“I think his dad has really taught him how to be that guy in the spotlight and understand what comes with it.”@Browns CB @gnewsii has been impressed with @ShedeurSanders so far 👀 pic.twitter.com/9sV8NXysLs
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) June 10, 2025
As a fifth-round pick, the quarterback is only a few shaky practices away from risking his roster spot.
Exploring How Long Sanders Could Be Stuck at Humbling Income Level
According to Spotrac, Sanders is signed on his rookie deal through the 2028 season. Overperforming on that deal could lead to an earlier extension, but the real question is how soon Sanders can change the Browns’ view of him.
League rules, as outlined by Over the Cap, state that a player can’t renegotiate his rookie contract until after his third regular season. That means Sanders is locked into this deal until the end of the 2027 season.
By passing on Sanders in the first round, the Browns also gave up the right to use a fifth-year option. So, unless they want to tag him, they’ll need to finalize a new deal by the end of 2028.
No matter how well Sanders plays, a bigger contract won’t come soon. The 2028 calendar year will be a turning point. But before any of that becomes relevant, he still needs to earn his spot on the 2025 roster.