Shedeur Sanders outplayed the QB he was often compared to in the 2025 draft cycle

Before a mystifying free-fall all the way to the fifth round, Shedeur Sanders was often compared to Cam Ward in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft. They were often considered the two best quarterbacks in the class, with differing opinions on which was more deserving to be the top QB.

Ward was ultimately drafted first overall by the Tennessee Titans and was the day one starter in Nashville. Sanders fell to the fifth round and had to scratch and claw his way to the top of the depth chart in Cleveland. Since getting his shot, Sanders has not disappointed.

Looking more like the once-projected Top 10 pick than a day three pick, Sanders is thriving for the Browns, albeit in another losing effort on Sunday. Sanders outplayed Ward head-to-head, though Ward got the last laugh by a victory that was aided by questionable decision-making by Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Sanders: 23/42, 364 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 97.7 QB Rating (1 rush TD)

Ward: 14/28 117 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 70.1 QB Rating

Sanders became the first rookie QB this season to surpass 300 passing yards. He also became only the second rookie QB in NFL history to throw for 350+ yards with three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown, joining Joe Burrow.

Shedeur Sanders has earned the right to start the rest of the season for the Browns

Stefanski wasn't asked after the game, but it seems obvious that Sanders will continue as the Browns' starting QB. Dillon Gabriel has been healthy for a few weeks now, but it would be ridiculous to swap back with how well Sanders is playing. He's gotten better each week, and while he'll still make some poor decisions - like the interception against the Titans - he'll also make some throws that Cleveland fans haven't seen from one of their QBs in quite some time.

Like this one:

And this one:

And this one:

The Browns may have accidentally stumbled into the franchise quarterback they've long coveted. They did everything they could possibly do wrong with Sanders' early development, but the former Colorado star has performed at a high level in spite of it.

Not only has he proven to be a better quarterback than Gabriel, the signal-caller Stefanksi and the organization coveted and prioritized, but on Sunday, he sure looked like the best quarterback on the field he was sharing with last year's No. 1 overall pick.