Shedeur Sanders’ drop to the fifth round was one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 NFL Draft. Analysts pointed to a flashy public image and ties to his father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, as reasons teams passed on him. Pre-draft chatter labeled him brash, even cocky.
However, since being picked 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns, Sanders is slowly proving his doubters wrong as he starts to excel in the four-way competition for QB1, especially in the ongoing OTAs. One analyst credited the Sanders’ improvement to the Browns’ QB coach Scott Musgrave and revealed how Cleveland plans to coach the Colorado alum.
NFL Analyst Reveals Browns’ Plan To Improve Shedeur Sanders’ Game
The Browns now have an embarrassment of riches in their quarterback room. That group includes not only Sanders, an injured Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel, but also Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco.
Sanders managed the fewest reps among the four quarterbacks during a practice session on May 28, but he was still the most accurate, efficient, and productive, completing 7 of 9 (78%) passes for three touchdowns and no interceptions.
While Sanders impressed with his work ethic during the rookie minicamp, he didn’t stand out in the quarterback competition against Gabriel. ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi noted that Sanders’ passing likely improved because he had been spending time with the Browns’ quarterback coach in between his reps, and the same routine would continue for the rest of the OTAs.
“Scott Musgrave, the quarterback coach, spends a lot of time with Shedeur Sanders when he’s not taking reps,” Grossi said. “Maybe that’s why he looked better with the veterans than he actually did at rookie camp. So, he’s very coachable, and they are doing their job in coaching him up. Even though he’s not getting as many reps as the others, it’s not as if they forget him. They are working on him.”
“They’re coaching him up… he looked better with the veterans than he actually did at rookie camp,” – @TonyGrossi on Shedeur Sanders at OTAs. pic.twitter.com/qD9JugKmmX
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 29, 2025
Sanders was widely regarded as one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft Class, and if nothing else, his OTA passing stats confirm that much. Even if his game still needs refinement, the 23-year-old has shown he can turn around a team’s fortunes, as he did at Jackson State and Colorado, the latter despite its shaky offensive line. With the Browns having a far better OL, Sanders’ pinpoint accuracy could shine even brighter.
Sanders balled in his final season at Colorado, throwing for over 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions, despite being sacked 42 times behind a shaky offensive line. He showed poise under pressure and consistently made plays while limiting turnovers — traits that will likely translate well in the NFL.
