San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged Wednesday that he didn’t spend much time evaluating quarterback Shedeur Sanders before the draft. Sanders, the son of Hall of Fame defensive back Deion Sanders, ultimately slid to the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round. He made his first start last week, resulting in a 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, and has been named the starter for Sunday’s matchup against the visiting 49ers.
The 49ers entered the draft with Brock Purdy and Mac Jones already on the roster, limiting their focus on early-round quarterbacks (Sanders ended up falling in the draft). While Shanahan didn’t complete an in-depth evaluation of Sanders, he noted that his staff did—and they came away impressed.
“The tapes that they showed me, I thought he was a good player also,” Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday. “Yeah, it (his fall) did surprise me, just going a little bit later when he did, just hearing what everyone was estimating and stuff, but I’ve been in enough drafts to know that not much should surprise you.”
The responsibility of stopping Sanders and the Browns’ offense falls to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. His injury-depleted unit will need to build on Monday night’s strong performance and deliver again in Cleveland.
“He’s a good, young quarterback,” Saleh said of Sanders. “He’s mobile, he’s got a big arm, tremendous confidence. He made a couple of really, really good throws in the game against Vegas, extending plays, getting out of the pocket, delivering the ball where it needed to be delivered.
“Obviously, he showed good command of the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. You anticipate someone like him, who’s got that confidence, who has that skill set, he’s just going to get better and better every week.”
The 49ers have limited film to study—just a game and a half—but Saleh expects Cleveland to lean on its run game to support the rookie. That likely means plenty of touches for running back Quinshon Judkins.
“He’s really good,” Saleh said of Judkins. “[WR] Jerry Jeudy‘s really good. They’ve gotten [WR] Malachi Corley involved. Their rookie tight end (Harold Fannin Jr.) is doing a really nice job. They’re a really good offense. They’ve got a style to them.
“Shedeur, he came in over the last week-and-a-half—his off-schedule stuff is going to be a problem, can already tell that. As he gets comfortable in what they’re asking him to do, he’s only going to get better, because you could tell how important it is to him and how much work he’s going to put into it. A guy who’s as good, as gifted as he is, both physically and mentally, and with the confidence he has, you just know he’s going to get better.”
Saleh expects the Browns’ offense to keep evolving around Sanders.
“I wish I could tell you exactly what it’s going to be,” Saleh continued. “We have an idea of what it’s going to be on Sunday, but I’m sure they’re going to keep adding little wrinkles to help him grow as a football player, and we’re just going to have to be great in those moments and play good, sound, fundamental football.”
Saleh added that the 49ers coaching staff hasn’t revisited Sanders’ college tape, focusing instead on his performance within Cleveland’s system. Besides, team scouts have already provided background on his collegiate traits.
Shanahan, who grew up idolizing Sanders’ father, reflected on the surreal nature of coaching against the Hall of Famer’s son.
“It is weird, just because he was my hero growing up,” Shanahan said of Deion Sanders. “He was probably my number one player, just in terms of being a true fan. I always talk about how I got his jersey in ’94 and wore it for about six months straight until someone jacked it from me. I’m still looking for that guy.
“But no, he was such a unique player. He was just different than everyone, his talent and everything. Now, to watch him be a coach, and to watch him raise—I think he’s got three boys—but to watch the two boys in sports has been really cool to watch.
“I know my wife and my daughter, they’re huge Colorado fans, too. So, I get to hear about the Buffaloes all the time.”