The entire NFL waited with bated breath about the fate of Shedeur Sanders. But rather than come in as a top-flight quarterback, he fell all the way to the fifth round of the 2025 draft, before getting his first shot as a starter in Week 12. Since then, he’s been a mixed bag on the field, with some incredible highlights coinciding with some dastardly lows.
However, thanks to his pedigree and the surname he carries, he has also been a source of immense conversation and speculation. As the Cincinnati Bengals get set to close their season against the Cleveland Browns, Joe Burrow had some glowing words for how the rookie has handled himself in this process.
Joe Burrow Likes What He Sees From Shedeur Sanders
In his six full games as a starter, Sanders has thrown for 1,242 passing yards and seven touchdowns, while giving up nine interceptions. However, as a rookie quarterback, the upside has been clear as day to see.
But with the gravity his name carried and the convoluted process that finally got him a starting job, he has been the subject of conversation throughout the year.
Whether it was his attitude, conspiracies about potential colluding within the Cleveland Browns organization, or a myriad of other judgmental discussions, they became everyday occurrences.
Dealing with all of that extra baggage alongside the pitfalls of being a rookie had to be a tall order for any player. As a result, as an established superstar in this league, Burrow believed he’d seen a lot of positives from the second-generation star.
“I really enjoyed watching him in college. He made a lot of great plays. I really thought he could throw it. Then, given who his dad is, he knows how to handle the media, he knows how to handle the spotlight.”
However, he did acknowledge that even with his prior training, the circumstances around his career had been particularly unique up to this point. “He’s certainly been under more of a microscope than any other fifth-round pick has ever been in the history of football, and every clip that I see, he seems to be handling it well, says the right things in the media.”
For one final time, the spotlight is going to be heavily on him. But the Browns have a critical decision awaiting them this offseason. With two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, they have a very good chance of adding a franchise quarterback in the draft.
But Sanders has shown some upside. So choosing between the two could help shape the franchise for the foreseeable future.
