Sanders Surges Ahead in Browns QB Battle
In a draft class defined by bold swings and quarterback controversy, it’s a fifth-round pick, not the headline-grabbing third-rounder, who’s making the early noise in Berea.
While much of the pre-draft spotlight focused on Dillon Gabriel’s Heisman résumé and Mason Graham’s top-five selection, it's Shedeur Sanders who's quietly, and now not so quietly, become the heartbeat of the Cleveland Browns' rookie minicamp.
What started as a developmental flyer may be morphing into something much bigger.
A quarterback room in flux
The Browns entered the 2025 offseason with more questions than answers under center. Deshaun Watson is still rehabbing his Achilles. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, both veteran backups, offer experience but not long-term solutions.
Cleveland’s draft strategy reflected this uncertainty, using two mid-round picks on quarterbacks: Gabriel in the third and Sanders in the fifth.
Early minicamp buzz suggested it was Gabriel’s job to lose. But after two practices, that narrative is already shifting.
Shedeur’s showing turns heads
Multiple reports from team insiders, including The Athletic’s Zac Jackson, noted that Sanders was the sharper passer during the team’s rookie sessions. Despite the limited context of no-pads 7-on-7s, the optics were hard to ignore.
“In just throwing the ball, it's not close: Shedeur Sanders,” Jackson said. “He looked composed, confident, and clean mechanically.”
Former NFL back LeSean McCoy echoed that sentiment, calling Sanders “the best player out of the whole camp.” That’s not a quote you often hear about a late-round pick.
Leadership emerging beyond the field
What’s more striking than his accuracy is Sanders’ presence. While Gabriel fielded questions about locker room division, Sanders deflected attention and focused on the team.
His social media presence, including a rookie group photo that conspicuously excluded Gabriel, has drawn speculative heat, but his post-minicamp message was clear: work comes first.
“You’re here now, none of that [draft position] stuff matters,” Sanders said. “I’m just excited to be here and ready to work.”
He even drew a text of encouragement from Tom Brady, who reminded him that greatness can start in the late rounds. It’s early, but Sanders seems to be channeling that advice.
The context: why this matters
Cleveland hasn’t had a stable starting quarterback in half a decade. In that time, they’ve cycled through Watson, Baker Mayfield, Jacoby Brissett, and Flacco. It’s why even a fifth-rounder flashing leadership qualities and mechanical polish is a storyline worth watching.
It’s not just about QB play. The Browns need a spark, something fresh. Especially in a locker room grappling with the emotional loss of linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who will miss the season after suffering a neck injury in 2024. His absence was felt deeply by teammate Greg Newsome II, the last remaining active player from their 2021 draft class.
“You never know when your moment ends,” Newsome said this week. “So yeah, it adds fuel.”
A battle just getting started
Of course, no depth chart is decided in May. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees emphasized that minicamp is just the beginning. But if early impressions count for anything, Sanders is playing his way into the conversation, and possibly into the locker room’s trust.
The Browns don’t need flash right now. They need stability. And oddly enough, it might be the unheralded rookie, one with NFL lineage, a calm demeanor, and a chip on his shoulder, who gives them the best shot at it.
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