After drafting two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns have found themselves in a tough situation going forward as there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding their future and who will be leading them.
While rookie Shedeur Sanders was a standout in college at Colorado, he wasn’t drafted until Round 5 back in April — two rounds after Cleveland picked former Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Both passers are sitting behind Joe Flacco, who turned 40 back in January, so the Browns don’t exactly have much time left to make a decision whether or not either is their QB of the future. Ideally, the team would know by the end of the season if either would be its QB1 heading into next year.
That said, only Gabriel has seen any action so far in the regular season, and even that was limited to less than five minutes in a blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Skip Bayless ‘Gets Real’ on Sanders’ Chances to Start With Browns
Three weeks into the regular season, Sanders is still the Browns’ third-string quarterback, seemingly diminishing his chances of getting to showcase what he can do. Considering Gabriel completed each of his three passes and threw for a touchdown in his lone appearance this season, some have wondered if Sanders will ever be more than a third-stringer.
Following the Browns’ upset victory over the Green Bay Packers, NFL analyst Skip Bayless went on “The Arena” podcast and sent a tough-to-hear message to Sanders about the likelihood of him seeing any starting minutes this season.
“Sheduer’s only hope in Cleveland is that the owner wants some kind of publicity splash this season,” Bayless said.
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Bayless also iterated that the Browns have “no use” for Sanders, and that’s why he was drafted several rounds after Gabriel, who some scouts believe had more upside as an NFL starter.
While it’s a stern way to put it, Bayless may have a point given the circumstances.
Cleveland wouldn’t have drafted Gabriel had he not been the quarterback that it saw a future with. Financially, however, Sanders is a huge asset to the Browns, as even in the preseason, fans tuned in to watch him play. In his first preseason game, he had over 2.2 million people tune in, which was the most-watched preseason game in a decade.
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Due to the publicity he draws, as an organization, it’d be difficult for the Browns to trade Sanders. It might also be premature to move Sanders, in general, without seeing what he can do — and at some point, the Browns might risk Sanders checking out if he doesn’t feel he’ll be given a legitimate chance to compete for playing time.
If Bayless is wrong and Sanders gets an opportunity to start due to the buzz he commands, it would make for some must-see TV.