LeSean McCoy Sparks Debate With Bold Take on Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Shot

LeSean McCoy Sparks Debate With Bold Take on Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Shot originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

When LeSean McCoy speaks, people listen, especially when he weighs in on the NFL’s hottest debates. On a recent episode of The Facility, the former Pro Bowl running back had some compelling things to say about Shedeur Sanders, and he didn’t hold back when discussing the Cleveland Browns’ crowded quarterback room.

McCoy, known for his candor, sees a real opportunity for Sanders, the former Colorado Buffaloes star and son of head coach Deion Sanders, to climb the ranks in Cleveland, fast.

“I think, in OTAs, you can show something. And I think you can jump,” McCoy said. “Some coaches I know over there, players I know over there, they already think that Shedeur is better than [Dillon Gabriel].”

For Colorado fans who’ve followed Shedeur’s journey from Jackson State to Folsom Field, McCoy’s endorsement is more than just locker-room chatter, it’s a sign that Sanders might be turning heads inside NFL walls.

The Cleveland Browns currently have Joe Flacco atop the depth chart, but questions still linger behind him. With a mix of journeymen and unproven talent, including Kenny Pickett and rookie Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick from Oregon.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) watches as quarterback Dillon Gabriel© Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

But McCoy clearly sees it differently.

“I think if Shedeur goes in the preseason and balls out… he’ll have a chance, man.”

It’s a comparison McCoy didn’t make lightly. He cited examples of quarterbacks like Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson, who both broke through as rookies by impressing in preseason action, not just on the practice field.

“Dak was 5-0, five touchdowns, zero picks in three games. Russ was 5-4-1. That’s how it starts,” McCoy emphasized. “It started with OTAs, and then it finished with the preseason.”

At Colorado, Sanders threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions in 2024, behind a porous offensive line that gave up a staggering 43 sacks. Still, his poise and leadership remained evident through every snap.

With McCoy’s comments now circulating through NFL circles, the buzz around Sanders isn’t just hype. It’s expectation.

The next step? Proving it under the lights.

Shedeur Sanders won’t be handed anything. But if he can replicate even a shadow of Prescott’s or Wilson’s preseason heroics, McCoy might be proven right, and Cleveland’s quarterback situation could get a lot more complicated.

For Buffaloes fans, Shedeur’s NFL debut this preseason might be must-watch television.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.

LeSean McCoy Sparks Debate With Bold Take on Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Shot

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