BEREA, OHIO — Shedeur Sanders may have slipped to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he’s wasting no time rewriting that narrative. The Cleveland Browns’ rookie quarterback has taken training camp by storm, and now even NFL veterans and analysts are jumping aboard the hype train.
Former Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck summed it up perfectly during a recent ESPN segment: “Don’t count him out. This kid can flat-out play.”
Initially expected to compete quietly as a developmental arm behind Deshaun Watson and backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Sanders has shattered all expectations with his calm command of the huddle, razor-sharp throws, and knack for making plays under pressure. According to team insiders, he’s been so good that some coaches have begun privately discussing the unthinkable: a possible midseason shift at quarterback if Watson falters.
“He’s not just surviving out there—he’s thriving,” said one Browns assistant coach anonymously. “Every day he makes throws that make the veterans look around like, ‘Did he just do that?’”
In red-zone drills, Sanders has been especially electric, threading balls into tight windows and showing the same pocket presence that dazzled fans during his time at Colorado under his father, Deion Sanders. But while the family name draws attention, it’s the work ethic that’s earning respect.
Teammates have already taken notice. Wide receiver Amari Cooper told reporters, “He doesn’t talk a lot. He just comes out and delivers dimes. There’s no fear in him.”
It hasn’t all been perfect—there have been interceptions, missed reads, and the normal learning curve—but Sanders’ poise has been nothing short of remarkable for a rookie. His film study habits, relentless desire to improve, and ability to command a locker room are drawing comparisons to some of the league’s elite.
And perhaps most critically, Head Coach Kevin Stefanski isn’t shutting down the noise.
“Shedeur’s doing exactly what you hope for in a young quarterback,” Stefanski said. “He’s competing, learning, and making plays. We love what we’re seeing.”
With the preseason schedule just weeks away, Browns fans now have a new reason to show up early and stay late—Shedeur Sanders. If he continues this pace, it won’t be a question of if he plays in 2025, but when.
Whether he’s the Browns’ secret weapon, the next star in the making, or both, one thing is clear: the spotlight is already on him—and he’s not blinking.