The slide of Shedeur Sanders in this year’s NFL Draft was the talk of the football world following his selection in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. Throughout the draft process and the draft itself, reports kept coming out about the evaluation process for Sanders, which allegedly contributed to his fall in the draft.
Now, with Browns minicamp concluding, one former Super Bowl-winning wide receiver believes Sanders has changed the narrative being placed on him.
Former Super Bowl-Winning Receiver James Jones Believes Sanders Can Make an Impact
While speaking on “The Facility” on FS1, James Jones joined the hosts and shared his take on how Sanders could potentially land himself in a position to open the season for the Browns as QB1.
.@89JonesNTAF says his expectations for Shedeur Sanders have changed since he was drafted:
“If he steps into this preseason and looks like the Shedeur from Colorado, you have to start him Week 1.” pic.twitter.com/ygdlGiMdHe
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) June 13, 2025
Jones mentioned how the Browns announced an open competition for the starting quarterback position between all four quarterbacks on their roster. Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Kenny Pickett, and Joe Flacco are all being evaluated to start for the Browns in the season opener. Jones believes Sanders can make his case if he plays well.
Jones said, “If he steps into this preseason and looks like the Shedeur Sanders from Colorado, you have to start this young boy Week 1.”
While Jones has a point, it will be quite a climb for Sanders to reach that goal. He could have a stellar preseason showing, but so could his competitors. Sharing the rookie quarterback title with third-round pick Dillon Gabriel is just one piece of this competition. NFL fans were shocked to see Gabriel get selected before Sanders in this draft, and even more so when Sanders was chosen to join him.
However, Robert Griffin III was a first-round selection for Washington in 2012, and Kirk Cousins was selected in the fourth round. Cousins eventually overtook Griffin III and never looked back until he left for Minnesota.
This gives Sanders a solid chance, but with Pickett and Flacco also being a part of the group, it will be an uphill climb. Pickett is coming off a Super Bowl winning stint with the Eagles, though his play was sparse. Flacco on the other hand is familiar with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski’s playbook, and will look to vie for the starting role despite his age.
Who Will Win the Browns Quarterback Competition?
According to ESPN Cleveland, Sanders ended Browns minicamp with the highest completion percentage of the five open practices, at 77.4%. The next highest was Pickett, at 60.3%. If Sanders can replicate this kind of performance throughout camp and translate it to reps during preseason games, then Stefanski will have a tough decision to make.
NFL teams typically do not carry four quarterbacks on the active roster, regardless of who earns the nod to start Week 1.
Can Sanders prove James Jones right and change his narrative? If he keeps performing at a high level and uses the chip on his shoulder as motivation, then there’s no reason why Sanders couldn’t be the best option to take the Browns’ first snap of the season.