Shedeur Sanders was arguably the highest-profile prospect in the history of the NFL Draft. The Colorado product was in the discussion for the first overall pick before a steep fall to the fifth round.
He’s now part of the wildest quarterback room in recent memory and had a rocky day at Browns OTA practice.
Shedeur Sanders Faces Early Rookie Challenge at Cleveland Browns OTAs
Sanders was one of the highest-rated quarterbacks in this year’s class after a standout final season at Colorado, where he completed 74.0% of his passes for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns. His pinpoint accuracy last season helped him finish as the all-time FBS career leader in completion percentage at 71.8%.
Accuracy was Sanders’ calling card, but a negative narrative developed around him due to concerns about his arm strength, athleticism, and his handling of interviews at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
Franchises also weren’t thrilled with how his camp managed the pre-draft process. But the Browns ended his slide by picking him 144th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Since landing in Cleveland, Sanders has been a model teammate, which even prompted a local radio host to change his opinion of the quarterback.
Sanders still has to earn his spot in a very crowded quarterback room. A recent report suggested he wasn’t getting the same number of 11-on-11 reps as the other QBs, but Head Coach Kevin Stefanski shot that down. Still, there was more in store for the rookie.
Cleveland is wrapping up its OTA schedule before mandatory minicamp, and Sanders had at least one tough moment in a recent session. Browns reporter Fred Greetham tweeted a clip of Sanders throwing a pick with the caption, “Shedeur Sanders intercepted on tipped ball by Nick Needham.”
#Browns Shedeur Sanders intercepted on tipped ball by Nick Needham pic.twitter.com/tzOe2QmQBl
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) June 4, 2025
It’s hard to put this interception entirely on Sanders. The pass hit the receiver’s hands first, and newly signed veteran cornerback Nick Needham was tightly covering the receiver during a non-contact drill.
It wasn’t a great look, but it shouldn’t hurt Sanders’ standing too much.
Browns’ QB Overhaul Creates Uncertain Role for Sanders
The Browns reshaped their quarterback room this offseason after suffering through a historically bad offense in 2024. The unit ranked 32nd in PFSN’s Offense+ metric, with Deshaun Watson finishing as the lowest-rated qualifying quarterback in PFSN’s QB+ metric after his Achilles injury.
Cleveland traded for Kenny Pickett, signed Joe Flacco, and drafted Dillon Gabriel 50 picks ahead of Sanders. The veterans are expected to compete for the starting job, but it’s unclear whether either rookie will get a real shot to play.
There’s a long way to go before the Browns settle on a starter. One interception — especially one that may not have been his fault — isn’t going to derail Sanders just yet.