Shedeur Sanders isn’t in the spot he likely pictured for his first NFL season. He’s currently serving as the Cleveland Browns’ third-string and scout team quarterback after being selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
While he’d undoubtedly prefer to be a starter somewhere, he recently shared some key advice from his father, Deion Sanders, that’s helping him adjust to life in Cleveland.
Shedeur Sanders Leans on Father’s Guidance in Scout Team Role With the Browns
Coming out of Colorado, Sanders was projected by many to be a day one or day two pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, he slid to day three, where the Browns selected him with the No. 144 pick.
It’s an uphill battle for any fifth-round quarterback to become a starter, and Sanders has been facing that challenge since rookie minicamp in Cleveland. He’s currently working as the Browns’ scout team quarterback, splitting reps with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel and veteran Bailey Zappe, who is on the practice squad.
While it’s not the spot he once envisioned when he was coming out of college, Sanders is adjusting. He recently told Cleveland.com some advice from his Hall of Fame father that’s helping him as he works to carve out a name for himself in the league.
“This is something my dad [Deion Sanders] used to say: ‘if you’re up there doing something every day, you better be getting better at it,”‘ Sanders told Cleveland.com. “So that’s how everything’s going. Everything we do in this building, it’s a learning thing. It’s learning every day.”
It’s sound advice from “Coach Prime,” who coached Sanders at both Jackson State and Colorado and has guided him throughout his football journey as both a father and a coach.
While splitting reps on the scout team isn’t the ideal role for Sanders, he knows how important it is for his NFL development. He told Cleveland.com that when he’s on scout team, he treats every rep like it’s game day because he understands just how valuable those opportunities are.
“Whenever I get on scout team, that’s my gameday,” Sanders told Cleveland.com. “Everybody knows. So that’s me having a game every week. I look at it, I have six games a week, so I’m happy rather than just having one game a week, on the weekends.”
The Browns are currently 0-2, and if those struggles continue, the team could look to make a change at quarterback from Joe Flacco, who is the current starter. While Gabriel sits ahead of Sanders on the depth chart, there’s still a chance Sanders could work his way into a starting role by season’s end.
While that remains unlikely, it’s clear that Sanders is embracing his scout team quarterback role. He isn’t letting it discourage him, instead using the opportunity to keep improving.
