Shedeur Sanders’ slide was the story of the 2025 NFL Draft. After months of waiting, the new Cleveland Browns quarterback could have another wait ahead of him.
What was an apparent shoo-in Week 1 start now has become a massive lingering question for the quarterback stuck in the crowded room. Sanders will need to supplant Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, Kenny Pickett, and Deshaun Watson. Watson appears to be on the team in name only but cannot be fully written off until he’s officially off the roster. That said, here’s a look at the best and worst-case starting scenarios.
Shedeur Sanders’ Start Date Could Be Sooner Than It Seems
First, here’s the best-case scenario. Sanders wins the job in earnest by the conclusion of Week 2 of the preseason. If he can do that, he will be in line to face Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.
However, that would mean getting a lot done in little time. The most difficult task going into winning the starting job could be beating out Flacco, who earned PFSN’s 23rd-best QB+ metrics rating.
Flacco has started for the franchise and gotten the team into the playoffs in one prior season, so he might be the front-runner to be the bridge quarterback. If that happens and Sanders is forced to wait, it could be roughly half a season or longer before Flacco sputters.
Flacco was the starter in a similar mentor role for the Denver Broncos in 2019, and he lasted eight starts. The Browns have a Week 9 bye, so that would line up relatively perfectly to get the transition done if needed.
Of course, the worst-case scenario for the quarterback would be Sanders failing to win a spot on the roster or failing to get any starting time in the 2025 season, although both outcomes seem remote.
Cleveland Browns Exiled From Primetime… for the Moment
Going into any NFL season, most teams can rely on at least one primetime game. However, the Browns have pulled the short straw in this regard. Between Week 1 and Week 18, the Browns don’t have a single game in the primetime window.
Their closest primetime game arguably is on Oct. 5 when the team faces J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings in London at 9:30 a.m. EST, according to NFL media. However, while the Browns game will be the only football game on television, it won’t be on Sunday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, or Monday Night Football.
Of course, with flexing remaining an option for most of the season for all teams, this could change.
Will Sanders be able to instigate a flex into primetime? He’ll need to win the starting job first.