Starting a rookie quarterback is hotly debated, especially with the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation that involves 2025 fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders.
In the old days, it was mainly about getting the hot new pick in there to sell tickets or because there wasn’t anyone else worth starting. Some teams would use a veteran to carry the load while the young star was given time to develop.
Steve DeBerg was famously used in this capacity – in one form or another – to break Joe Montana, John Elway, Steve Young, and Vinny Testeverde into the league before he became the full-time starter for the Kansas City Chiefs for three years.
The Browns find themselves in a similar situation. They have 40-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco is on the roster along with rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Sanders. Speculation is swirling on who will win the race to be the starter.
Can Shedeur Sanders win the Starting Job in Cleveland?
Former NFL wide receiver Isaiah Stanback appeared on Good Morning Football and was asked if he bought the idea of Sanders as Cleveland’s starting quarterback.
“Buying it. I’m buying it all the way. I don’t care where his draft position was … but the reality is this dude is built for, he’s proven it, right,” the former Super Bowl champ said. “This is the only guy in the draft who has shown you that for two programs that he went to, that he was able to build them up from nothing to something.”
“He is the only one who is battle tested in terms of the media. He is the only one that has had that burden that’s been placed on him because of the last name that he has,” Stanback enthused. “I don’t care how crowded that room is unless they just give it to Flacco, he is going to win that job.”
Could Shedeur be QB1 this year in Cleveland? 🧐@IamSTANBACK weighs in with his thoughts on the 5th round draft pick ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VrMchck5jz
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) May 6, 2025
Sanders winning the starting the job outright at the start of his rookie season seems unlikely, but a rookie taking over during the season is fairly common.
Dan Marino, of all people, started out on the bench behind David Woodley. But Marino got the start in Week 6 and became the starter for the rest of the season throwing for 2,210 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Marino became the first rookie to start at quarterback in the Pro Bowl.
Comparing Sanders to Marino is a bit much, but Dak Prescott may be a bit closer to the mark. He was not thought very highly of when he came out of Arkansas in 2016 when the Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the fourth round.
However, Tony Romo suffered a compression fracture in his back and was forced to retire. Current New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore was the backup quarterback and broke his leg in training camp. Prescott was pressed into the starting role and never looked back. He put up 3,667 passing yards, 23 TD, six rushing TD, and only four picks.
That’s a rookie performance any quarterback would be thrilled to have.