Shedeur Sanders was widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he eventually fell to the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round after a slew of negative reports emerged in the lead-up to the draft
After a start to his NFL career that he certainly didn’t plan, Shedeur Sanders is finding his footing and enjoying life with the Cleveland Browns’ quarterbacks. Sanders had been suggested, widely, as a contender for the first overall pick in this year’s NFL draft but ended up being selected in the fifth round.
That came amid a variety of concerns raised by anonymous NFL coaches and officials over the 23-year-old’s character.
Now, having been taken by the Browns, he’s in a fierce competition just to make the team’s roster, starting at No.4 on the depth chart behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. However, Sanders remains undaunted by the challenge and is appreciative of his time with his new teammates.
“It’s a really great locker room,” he shared on his YouTube channel. “The quarterback room is fun. Every day, it’s fun going in there. Everything is really good and I’m really happy.
“We got a bunch of different personalities in the quarterback room, and just talking to the quarterbacks that took NFL snaps, that played in the league, you’re living the experience through them also and ask them whatever questions come to mind.”
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Sanders has been grateful to get back on the practice field and let his play do the talking after his unexpected tumble in the draft. He added: “I was able to finally get back on grass, and the outside noise and everything was put to an end, and I was able to actually get out there and show what I’m able to do.”
Though Sanders experienced a significant drop from being a possible No.1 overall pick to a day-three draftee, his belief remains unshaken. But he’s aware he must first gain the trust of his new squad.
“I know the fans and I know what they want,” he expressed. “I’ve got to be the best teammate and prove myself to the team first before I give them that. I just want to give [the fans] something to hope for because I know I’m going to accomplish my personal goal, which is to be a leader of the team, and then eventually I will be able to accomplish that second goal.”
Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Pickett is the early frontrunner for the starting job in Cleveland.Yet FOX Sports analyst Colin Cowherd is backing Sanders to be the starting quarterback for the Browns come Week 1.
At Wednesday’s OTAs, Sanders impressed by nailing seven out of nine passes, throwing three touchdowns without a single interception, overshadowing all contenders for the top job.
During his commentary, Cowherd spilled the beans: “I don’t want to make a big deal out of this, but some pretty interesting information trickled over my phone from the Cleveland Browns’ OTA yesterday. I’m not great at math, but it appears in the four-quarterback derby, one of them has more TDs than incompletions.
“Shedeur Sanders had the fewest attempts but he was the most efficient and the most productive, with the fewest reps. I’ve seen enough, we are calling it in Ohio, Shedeur Sanders should be starting.
“You can keep selling me on Pickett, you can keep selling me on Dillon Gabriel. Now Flacco, I bought. He’s one of my favorite guys that’s ever played in the league. Everybody likes Flacco, but I’m calling it for Shedeur.”