Because the Cleveland Browns chosen quarterback Shedeur Sanders within the fifth spherical of the 2025 NFL draft, the workforce has introduced him alongside like a developmental participant. The fourth quarterback added throughout the offseason, Sanders was QB4 on the depth chart — behind veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel — throughout coaching camp and did not obtain a single first-team rep all through the summer time.
Browns common supervisor Andrew Berry likened Sanders’ transition to the professionals as somebody who was “fluent in English and now you need to study Mandarin.” Sanders started Cleveland’s common season on Sept. 7 because the No. 3 QB behind Flacco and Gabriel — Pickett was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders forward of roster cutdown day. Sanders then assumed the backup position after Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 7.
Throughout the Browns’ Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Gabriel sustained a concussion and Sanders entered the sport at first of the second half. After an uneven and sudden debut through which he completed 4-of-16 passing for 47 yards with an interception and was sacked twice, the 23-year-old will get one other likelihood to showcase his development in Week 12.
With Gabriel remaining in concussion protocol, Sanders will make his first profession begin on Sunday on the Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS), turning into the forty second quarterback to begin for the Browns for the reason that franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999.
However there are questions that come up with Sanders’ first begin, together with how coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will maximize the rookie’s talent set in Cleveland’s offense and the way this transfer impacts the workforce’s offseason personnel technique when deciding on quarterback depth and fairly presumably the long run face of the franchise. ESPN NFL Nation Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi, senior NFL insider Jeremy Fowler and NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid weigh in on what lies forward for Sanders and the Browns:
How are the Browns supporting Sanders to set him up for achievement?
A lot has been made in regards to the apply reps given (or not given) to Sanders since he arrived in Cleveland, however Stefanski has been assured in his workers’s plan for the fifth-round draft select of Colorado. With 13 rookies on the energetic roster, together with two rookie quarterbacks, Stefanski, who’s in his sixth season as head coach, has modified practices. He cut up the apply subject into two to maximise reps throughout the summer time and has applied post-practice classes for younger, developmental gamers reminiscent of Sanders.
Although Sanders wasn’t receiving beginning apply reps like Gabriel did when he was the backup to Flacco throughout the season, Sanders has run the scout workforce offense and gotten reps in walk-through settings.
Sanders mentioned after his debut Sunday in opposition to Baltimore that the post-practice reps helped him to know ideas however acknowledged he has to develop chemistry with the beginning unit. “I do not suppose I performed good in any respect. I feel there’s a variety of issues we have to take a look at throughout the week and go and simply get snug with even throwing routes with [wide receiver] Jerry [Jeudy] and throwing routes with all these guys. I feel that was my first ball to him all yr,” he mentioned.
Sanders will lastly get these first-team apply reps this week.
“You wish to make it possible for all of the ideas are issues that he feels assured in,” Stefanski mentioned Wednesday. “Clearly having been round him over the months, you get sense of the issues that match his eyes, so to talk. So positively wish to lean into these kinds of issues and he is working very exhausting.” — Oyefusi
What are the rookie QB’s greatest traits? And the place does he nonetheless want to enhance?
Ball placement and poise are amongst Sanders’ greatest traits, as evidenced by his expertise in faculty (25 begins at Colorado and 25 extra at Jackson State).
In his closing season at Colorado, he had an FBS-high 74% completion proportion, and his 6.5% off-target fee was third lowest. When he’s protected and in rhythm, Sanders has sufficient arm power to get the ball to his spots, and he is exact when throwing to the beneath areas of the sphere.
Sanders should nonetheless study when performs are over, although. He tends to float within the pocket, in search of the proper play, and that can lead to large losses when issues do not open up rapidly. He took an FBS-high 42 sacks final season because the Buffaloes’ beginning QB.
Getting the ball out to his checkdown or just seeking to achieve yards as a runner can be key as he adjusts to beginning within the NFL. — Reid
How can Stefanski and Rees maximize Sanders’ talent set?
Throughout the rookie’s one half of play in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens, Baltimore took benefit of Sanders’ inconsistent pocket administration and the Browns’ struggling offensive line by sending an assortment of blitzes. Sanders completed 0-for-5 in opposition to the blitz and simply 1-for-7 with an interception and two sacks underneath duress, in response to ESPN Analysis.
Rees, who took over because the Browns’ playcaller in Week 10, tried to assist Sanders by rolling him out within the pocket and designing fast reads to get the ball out of his palms in rhythm.
The Raiders do not blitz usually, however given Sanders’ troubles in his debut and accidents alongside the offensive line for Cleveland — beginning tackles Jack Conklin and Cam Robinson are day-to-day with knee accidents — the Browns ought to anticipate comparable appears at Las Vegas and must be ready with solutions.
A well-executed run-first sport plan would additionally assist to maintain Sanders in advantageous down-and-distance conditions. — Oyefusi
How probably is it that Cleveland goes again to Gabriel as soon as he is wholesome?
Instantly following Sunday’s sport in opposition to Baltimore, Stefanski dedicated to Gabriel because the starter if the quarterback have been to clear the concussion protocol. Stefanski additionally mentioned he didn’t wish to speculate if Sanders might retain the beginning position with a robust efficiency in opposition to the Raiders.
This stance by the coach aligns with earlier feedback he has made and helps how he has not wavered on Gabriel’s standing as QB1, even because the offense has eclipsed 20 factors solely as soon as since he took over because the starter in Week 5.
A formidable exhibiting from Sanders would make for an attention-grabbing determination for the Browns’ Week 13 sport in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers, however Stefanski hasn’t given any indication that he would contemplate a everlasting change to Sanders, making Sunday’s sport at Las Vegas doubtlessly instrumental within the QB decision-making going ahead.
“I am clearly centered on this sport,” Stefanski mentioned Wednesday. — Oyefusi
With the Browns having two first-round picks in 2026, how will Sanders’ and Gabriel’s play impression Cleveland’s draft technique?
Proprietor Jimmy Haslam mentioned that it was “completely” necessary to guage each rookie quarterbacks on the sphere this season, and with the transfer to begin Sanders within the wake of Gabriel’s harm, the Browns will get their alternative to see each passers lead the offense.
Earlier than his concussion, Gabriel struggled in his 4 video games because the starter, posting a 30.9 Complete QBR that ranks thirty first out of 32 qualifying passers, rating above solely Tennessee Titans rookie Cam Ward.
Sanders’ debut received off to an excellent worse begin — he registered a 2.4 QBR within the second half of Sunday’s sport — however there’s perception internally that Sanders will produce a greater exhibiting with a full week of apply reps.
The Browns have 10 draft picks, together with their two first-rounders, within the 2026 draft. With an offense that has woefully lagged behind an elite protection, Cleveland is prone to goal upgrades alongside the offensive line and on the talent positions, which can be headlined by the quarterback place. — Oyefusi
What are the possibilities the Browns look elsewhere for a QB1 within the offseason?
The possibilities are reasonably excessive. Armed with two first-round picks (one being from the 2025 commerce with the Jacksonville Jaguars), the Browns can have ample alternative to safe a passer excessive within the draft.
The 2026 quarterback class is taken into account weaker than marketed getting into the school soccer season, however a number of passers will show worthy of a first-round billing. Cleveland is projected to personal the Nos. 2 and 19 picks based mostly on present data and ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index. That is a novel alternative to discover a long-term answer on the sport’s most necessary place.
Daniel Jones would be the high free agent quarterback, and although the Indianapolis Colts will work to deliver the veteran quarterback again, something is feasible in free company.
Whereas the Browns are excessive on Gabriel, most groups I’ve spoken to undertaking him as a high quality No. 2 within the league. Maybe he can change that notion over the ultimate six or seven weeks or show he is a bridge possibility in 2026. However both method the Browns are well-positioned to make a daring assertion this offseason. — Fowler
