The Cleveland Browns are looking to host one of the wildest quarterback competitions in recent memory. The veterans, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, are competing against the rookies, Dillion Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, for the starting job.
While many analysts are applauding the work Sanders has been putting in so far, others fall back on the concerns that led to his historic plummet in the 2025 NFL Draft. Some of those criticisms arose from Sanders’ pre-draft interviews, during which he was described as “arrogant” and “brash.” Now, one NFL scout is doubling down on the opinion they formed of the former Colorado Buffalo.
Scout Continues To Question Browns’ Shedeur Sanders’ Maturity and Professionalism
The Browns shocked everyone when they passed on Sanders, who was expected to be a first-round pick, over and over again, only to finally select him in the fifth round. The surprise was amplified by the fact that it came two rounds after they picked up Gabriel.
During the Browns’ minicamp, Sanders got the bulk of attention, with many applauding his on-field performance despite him not taking first-team reps. This only served to raise more questions about why Sanders dropped in the draft.
In an article with Athlon Sports, one rival NFL scout shared their worries about Sanders’ attitude. “Shedeur Sanders is a very polarizing guy. We didn’t like his attitude and how he handled the draft process. He wasn’t prepared. He mailed it in at every step. He didn’t take it seriously enough.”
The scout did add that Sanders has the potential to be an NFL starter, but he needs to adjust his approach if he wants to be a successful team member.
“If he figures it out that he doesn’t have it all figured out and applies himself, I can see him having success,” said the scout. “He’s got a lot of tools. He’s just not a great athlete, and he has to cut out some bad habits as far as taking sacks, staring down ready and patting the football excessively.”
Shedeur Sanders: “When it’s time for me to play, it’s time for me to play. But I’m not looking too far into the future … I’m focused on the small things. And over time, the big things will happen.” pic.twitter.com/Me6JcdBQSv
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) June 10, 2025
Sanders’ father, and former coach, is the infamous and always polarizing Deion Sanders. Now a Hall of Famer, Deion was an exceptional athlete, more along the lines of Shedeur’s teammate Travis Hunter than his son.
Now his son seems to be following in his footsteps, which includes his recent speeding ticket for going over 100 mph. Shedeur’s general demeanor has caused many in the league to be skeptical about his ability to be a professional.
If he wants to have a long and fruitful career in the NFL, he will need to curb his attitude and improve his performance. If he doesn’t, he risks missing out on future opportunities, including being named a starter in Cleveland and potentially being selected by other teams in the future, either through free agency or a trade.
