There’s not a extra intriguing fifth-round draft choose enjoying within the NFL this preseason than Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders. He made his first look for the Browns on Friday evening of their preseason opener towards the Carolina Panthers and delivered a reasonably promising efficiency which will have given him a pleasant step ahead within the workforce’s quarterback competitors.
Sanders performed a lot of the Browns’ 30-10 win over the Panthers, finishing 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and working for 19 yards on 4 carries.
He had the chance to play most of Friday’s recreation, given the accidents to Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel.
It was not an ideal efficiency by any means, and a few of the pre-draft issues that existed with Sanders have been completely on show on Friday, together with his tendency to carry on to the ball somewhat too lengthy. Whereas he solely took two sacks, there have been a handful of performs the place he ran round within the backfield ready for one thing to develop. It didn’t damage him on this recreation towards a Carolina protection that was one of many NFL’s worst a yr in the past and didn’t play its starters for greater than a collection. That type of play might not work properly towards higher defenses, and definitely not starting-caliber gamers.
However these are a few of the rising pains and studying experiences which might be going to come back for a rookie quarterback. And there have been much more positives than negatives in his play on Friday evening.
The Browns did not ask him to do a ton, and gave him plenty of protected throws, however he demonstrated robust accuracy (one in all his greatest strengths in school) and led a number of scoring drives earlier than leaving the sport.
He did what was requested, and he did it pretty properly.
Sanders’ play and growth are going to be one of many greatest storylines to observe within the NFL each this preseason and into the common season.
He entered the 2025 NFL Draft course of as one of many supposed high quarterback prospects within the class and appeared like a lock to go someplace within the first spherical. He not solely didn’t go within the first spherical, however he additionally fell to the fifth spherical and was not even the primary quarterback chosen by the Browns (they took Gabriel forward of him).
Normally, a fifth-round rookie can be an afterthought as a part of a workforce’s quarterback competitors. However this isn’t a traditional circumstance. The Browns have a roster filled with dangerous quarterback choices, together with veterans Joe Flacco and Pickett, in addition to the 2 rookies. That doesn’t even get into the mess that’s Deshaun Watson if he’s ever wholesome sufficient to play this season. It’s as wide-open a quarterback competitors as you possibly can ever have within the NFL. The accidents to Pickett and Gabriel opened one other door for Sanders to doubtlessly stroll by way of.
On Friday, he did his half to begin taking some steps towards it.
There’s nonetheless a protracted approach to go, nevertheless it was at the very least encouraging for him. In addition to the Browns.
