Shedeur Sanders arrived at Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp with questions swirling around his draft stock, competition level, and fit at the next level. Less than two weeks into organized team activities, those questions are quickly turning into respect—inside and outside the building.
The former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, has been the most efficient and poised player on the field in Berea. On Wednesday, Sanders put together his sharpest outing yet, going a perfect 10-for-10 in team drills for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
And while Sanders hasn’t yet received first-team reps, his performance is becoming impossible to ignore.
Coaches praise his preparation
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, speaking with reporters after practice, offered high marks for Sanders’ approach to the playbook and command in the huddle.
“He’s worked his tail off,” Rees said. “You can tell he’s invested mentally—learning the system, getting comfortable with the terminology, and finding his rhythm. That’s where you start to see the game slow down for a young quarterback.”
Quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave echoed the sentiment, emphasizing how well Sanders and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel have adjusted to the NFL’s language and pace.
“There’s not a lot of huddling in college,” Musgrave noted on the Browns’ team podcast. “But both of them are getting more comfortable every day. They’re starting to find their voice in the huddle, and that matters.”
For Shedeur, who operated mostly in shotgun sets under Sean Lewis and Pat Shurmur, the transition to a pro-style system hasn’t appeared to slow him down. If anything, it’s elevated him.
The numbers don’t lie
Here’s how the Browns’ quarterbacks stacked up during Wednesday’s team drills, according to ESPN Cleveland:
Shedeur Sanders: 10-of-10, 140 yards, 2 TDs
Joe Flacco: 10-of-12, 115 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Kenny Pickett: 11-of-14, 102 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Dillon Gabriel: 8-of-12, 73 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT
It’s important to keep OTA performances in perspective—they’re not live-contact, and reps are scripted—but when a rookie completes every pass in a session, it demands attention. If this was in a preseason game, the sports world would explode.
Earning trust in the locker room
While Sanders is still earning reps behind Flacco, Pickett, and Gabriel, he’s already building trust among his teammates.
Veteran wide receiver Jerry Jeudy offered unsolicited praise during a youth football camp this week.
“He’s a great young quarterback,” Jeudy said. “A great dude. I’m excited to have him on the team.”
Jeudy’s endorsement shouldn’t be taken lightly. Since entering the NFL in 2020, he’s caught passes from more than 10 different quarterbacks. When he singles someone out, it speaks volumes.
Stefanski taking notice
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has yet to hint at a depth chart shift, but he made it clear that both Sanders and Gabriel are impressing early.
“They’re wired to put in the work,” Stefanski said. “They get in early, they stay late, they ask the right questions. That’s exactly what you want from young quarterbacks.”
With Deshaun Watson still recovering from a second Achilles injury and unlikely to be ready by training camp, the Browns will enter the summer with four quarterbacks competing for the job. And while Flacco and Pickett bring NFL experience, Sanders is showing that he belongs in the conversation.
James' final thoughts
Shedeur Sanders isn’t just adjusting to the NFL—he’s seems to be thriving in it. The same quarterback who was sacked more than any other Power Five passer over the last two seasons is now operating behind a competent offensive line and demonstrating NFL-caliber command.
For Colorado fans, none of this should come as a surprise. Sanders was consistently poised under pressure in Boulder. Now, with better protection and more weapons around him, his polish is finally showing through.
It’s too early to call it a quarterback controversy in Cleveland, but it’s not too early to say this: Shedeur Sanders is ahead of schedule, and he’s making his case one practice at a time.
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