Anyone questioning the abilities of Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders might want to consider what one NFL general manager is saying. Sanders looked electric in his NFL preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Friday night.
In the first half alone, Sanders was 11-for-18 for 103 yards and two touchdowns. He also found room to scatter out of the pocket when necessary. On one play, Sanders was under pressure but moved out to the right and found his way down the field for a first down.
Browns fans have been watching the quarterback battle between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Tyler Huntley, and Sanders. On Friday night, though, the stars were apparently aligned for Shedeur.
What Did NFL GM Say About Shedeur Sanders?
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz headed out to X and shared what one anonymous AFC North Division team general manager texted him. Schultz wrote, “Text from a high-ranking AFC North executive on #Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders: ‘It’s early, but wow. Actually shocked at how good he looks.'”
Text from a high-ranking AFC North executive on #Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders: “It’s early, but wow. Actually shocked at how good he looks.” https://t.co/sb5xKB63sA
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 9, 2025
Sanders has proven to be a stellar player during the Browns’ training camp. He’s apparently been doing all that coaches have asked him to do while primarily working with the Browns’ third-stringers.
But Sanders, who played for his father and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders at Colorado, already had some cards stacked against him. Sanders was penciled in to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he experienced a shocking drop all the way to the fifth round.
Will Sanders Get Elevated in QB Battle?
Despite the Browns having a crowded quarterback room, not including the injured Deshaun Watson, Cleveland drafted Sanders. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski made the decision to give Sanders a start on Friday night.
It’s hard to believe that Stefanski would be anything but thrilled over Sanders’ performance.
His efforts against Carolina will be studied not only by Browns coaches, but fans as well. There might be a groundswell from the Cleveland faithful to have Sanders start when the NFL regular season kicks off.
For now, it appears that Flacco will be the Week 1 starter. If Sanders continues to play at this level, though, it’s going to be a tough decision for Stefanski down the road.
Time will tell if Sanders can replicate this caliber of performance in the preseason. However, for the moment, he’s definitely got Cleveland fans feeling better about their quarterback situation.
