“Work in progress.”
That’s how Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry described Shedeur Sanders a day after the 2025 season ended. Having started seven games last year, the rookie quarterback threw for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. Sanders showed flashes throughout his rookie campaign, but not everyone believes in his potential. Recently, one Cleveland radio host shared a pessimistic assessment of the quarterback’s future.
Shedeur Sanders’ Rookie Season Hasn’t Impressed Everybody
There’s no doubt that Sanders has been putting in work all offseason. Berry has said that Sanders’ growth has been “phenomenal.”
However, not everyone seems to be on board. Sharing his thoughts on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland, Anthony Lima said, “I’m not saying Shedeur can’t get better; I’m just saying it doesn’t look good. There are a lot of indicators. He’s got a lot to overcome. You just telling me he has similar stats to Hall of Fame QBs, I can do that with every QB that plays.”
“I’m not saying Shedeur can’t get better, I’m just saying it doesn’t look good. Here are a lot of the indicators, he’s got a lot to overcome. You just telling me he has similar stats to HOF QB’s, I can do that with every QB that plays.”
🏈@SportsBoyTony on people comparing… pic.twitter.com/cUbzbL9beD
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) June 30, 2026
Looking back at his rookie season, it’s not hard to see where Lima is coming from. While Sanders won three of his seven starts in a struggling offense, his completion rate of 56.6% is low by today’s NFL standards. He was also intercepted 10 times, which, compared to his seven touchdown passes, paints a pretty bleak picture. Sanders was the third-worst quarterback in the league last season, according to PFN’s QB Impact metric.
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However, it’s not the first time a rookie quarterback has struggled in the NFL. Even superstars like Josh Allen, Peyton Manning, and Troy Aikman took time to adjust before developing into elite players. There’s no question that there are aspects of Sanders’ game that still need improvement.
And it seems like Sanders understands that.
“[Sanders’] progress has been impressive,” Browns offensive coordinator Travis Switzer said. “Just his ability to move through progressions. His feet are getting more urgent, and he’s ready to throw when he needs to more consistently. We can continue to grow there, but his progress has been impressive.”
As things stand, it’s well within the realm of possibility that Sanders could win the starting quarterback spot over Deshaun Watson.
“I’m focused on developing as a player, doing everything, getting as comfortable as I can in the offense and the scheme, and playing with confidence,” Sanders said recently. “That’s all I’m really looking for and trying to improve every day.”
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Ultimately, the decision will rest with Browns head coach Todd Monken, but Sanders will be aiming to make that choice as difficult as possible before the season begins.
