It should come as no surprise that Shedeur Sanders is still a hot topic after being drafted. For months, analysts have debated what team should select Sanders and in what round. Then the world was shocked that he wasn’t picked until the fifth round.
Sanders joined a very full quarterback room. The Cleveland Browns already selected Dillion Gabriel in the third round and already had Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, and Kenny Pickett on their roster. That has sparked a new debate about whether or not Sanders will get a shot at starting in 2025.
Shedeur Sanders Has a Real Shot
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly knows a thing or two about expectations in the league. A one-time top-10 draft pick, Kuechly is now a scout for the team that chose him, the Carolina Panthers.
He recently joined Kay Adams on her podcast, “Up & Adams,” and was asked if he thinks Sanders will start Week 1.
“I think there’s an opportunity for him,” Kuechly told Adams, but acknowledged he has real competition. “You look at that quarterback room, I think going into Week 1, the quarterback that those guys have the most confidence in, I bet it’s Flacco. He’s been there, he’s done it.”
While Pickett was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, Flacco is the only quarterback in the group to lead his team to a Super Bowl win. However, he is also 40 years old.
Shedeur Sanders starting for the Browns in week 1?
According to Luke Kuechly, now is the time for Shedeur to thrive after being counted out. 🙌@heykayadams | @LukeKuechly pic.twitter.com/PFGa57VUvo
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow)
Kuechly pointed out that he doesn’t believe Watson will automatically start. He said that Sanders has to take his frustration and channel it into something productive.
“If you’re Shedeur, you probably thought you were going to go a lot higher in the draft than you did. Now, you get to go be in a situation where, as a competitive athlete and a competitor, this is where he should stand up and really thrive,” added Kuechly.
Kuechly said the competitive fire is in his blood, so he’s got a real shot at being a starter based on who is in that room and what the Browns want to accomplish in 2025.
Sanders Has No Business Being a Starter
As with every other Sanders conversation this offseason, there is an opposing viewpoint. This one comes from former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel on “The Facility.”
“No. I don’t expect it at all. He can play eventually, but to win the starting job should not even be remotely on his mind right now. He’s a fifth-round pick. His whole goal, and speaking from experience, your whole goal – just make the roster,” said Daniel, who spent most of his career as a backup journeyman.
Daniel said that Sanders’ real competition is Gabriel. He expects that Flacco will win the starting job out of the gates and Pickett will be the veteran backup. That leaves Gabriel and Sanders to compete.
The Browns’ general manager, Andrew Berry, said that they hadn’t intended to take two quarterbacks, but as Daniel pointed out, they got a “deep discount” on Sanders and couldn’t pass him up.
“To win the starting job, right now is not the time to worry about that, because you’re going to be getting ahead of yourself, in my opinion. Your job, right now, as a quarterback, in OTAs, just learn the freaking playbook. Just put in the work,” explained Daniel.
Daniel said that every coach he ever played for emphasized exactly that to the backups. He said you can’t complain, make waves, or cause problems. Instead, you have to put your nose to the grindstone and show maximum effort.
.@ChaseDaniel on the expectations for Shedeur Sanders with the Browns:
“Starting should not be anywhere on his mind. His whole goal is to make the roster. Your competition is Dillion Gabriel.” pic.twitter.com/yBAS01RkmR
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1)
Then, when you get a shot at starting, you better play the best football of your life because you won’t get many chances. It is impossible to play your best if you don’t take preparation seriously.
Sanders has an uphill battle, whether he likes it or not. In the pros, it doesn’t matter what you did in college; all that matters is what a player is doing now, and Sanders needs to show his coaches he has what it takes.