Although the Browns did place their bet on Shedeur Sanders to become a franchise QB, nothing is going right for the former Buffs QB. Head coach Kevin Stefanski, who is yet to decide on QB1, is more likely to go ahead with one of the veterans from Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco instead of Dillon Gabriel or Sanders. While many believe that either Gabriel or Sanders could be THE answer for the Browns\u2019 franchise QB hunt, both rookies are likely not the long-term answers Cleveland was looking for. And with the front office also divided on the Colorado legend, Shedeur\u2019s chances seem a little lopsided.<\/p>\n
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Owner Jimmy Haslam reportedly made the call. When Sanders\u2019 name was called in the draft, the war room looked like they were walking on cacti. Still, HC Stefanski made it known that Sanders has what it takes soon after being drafted. \u201cOnce you\u2019re in the building, nobody really cares where you were drafted\u2026 Clearly, [Shedeur] has the talent to go higher in the draft. Our job is to dive in and help him.\u201d Despite this promise, when the minicamps came around, Flacco, Pickett, and Gabriel got to practice with the first team. And Sanders? He was left throwing dimes to the secondary. The questions bubbled again: Is the front office giving him a fair shot?<\/p>\n
Even with the questions around QB1 for the new season, three QBs (except for Sanders) continue to find their name in predictions. Analysts and insiders cite the depth chart for what to expect: Flacco \u2013 Pickett \u2013 Gabriel \u2013 Sanders. Insider Terry Pluto dropped a harsh reality check recently. \u201cFor Shedeur Sanders, the reality is he\u2019s no longer special. Not in the eyes of the NFL. Only 7% of starters come from the fifth round. \u2013 It\u2019s true that Sanders has impressed the Browns with his work ethic and serious approach to learning the offense. \u2013 But these are glorified touch football practices.\u201d There have also been trade rumors swirling around Sanders. But does this mean Sanders is stepping down? Not by a long shot.<\/p>\n
On a recent edition of the Barbershop podcast,<\/a>\u00a0G-Bush revealed what Shedeur has been up to these days. On the podcast, he shared a clip of Sanders where he\u2019s somewhere in Florida \u201cthrowing dots in the rain!\u201d Green shorts, white henley, and his Browns helmet. Sanders was throwing explosive dimes everywhere on the field. But the throws, or the grind in the rain wasn\u2019t the statement. It was Sanders showing up wearing the Browns helmet. As Bush noted, \u201che could have wore a baseball cap, a visor, any of that, right? But you know what he told you? \u2018Whether you all wanted it or not, I\u2019m gonna just keep showing up. Whether ya\u2019ll know it or not, I\u2019m gonna just keep working.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Bush doubled down on the 23-year-old\u2019s drive to rep the Browns wherever he goes. Even if the organization isn\u2019t all for it. \u201cWhere I go, I\u2019m trying to elevate the Cleveland Browns to a different level. And sometimes when you go to the different level and when you getting around or you trying to bring a different level of different energy, you gonna have people in your organization that don\u2019t like that.\u201d But He\u2019s doubled down on \u2018proving himself right\u2019, as he\u2019d notably said when he first came to the Browns. Even as he raises eyebrows from the front office, he\u2019s going to keep working on his QB1 journey, even if it ends up making things difficult for Kevin Stefanski going forward.<\/p>\n Shedeur Sanders adds to Kevin Stefanski\u2019s QB headache<\/p>\n Despite all the criticism and speculation around Shedeur Sanders, there\u2019s quite a lot of support as well. Darrell Colbert Jr., the founder of Select QB Athletics had noted Shedeur\u2019s drive since he was in middle school. \u201cEven back then, Shedeur wanted to just come work out. \u2013 He would come out there and throw with me when I was out there throwing or come work out with me\u2026 And then, once I got done playing ball and got into training, he was like, \u2018Shoot, I\u2019m training with you. I want to train with you.’\u201d That fire is still there as Sanders continues to prove his worth to the Browns.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Analysts like Dan Orlovsky believe Sanders is \u201ccustom made\u201d for Kevin Stefanski\u2019s offense. While former NFL receiver James Jones doesn\u2019t see Flacco as the solution for the Browns, Jones sees Sanders behind Pickett in the depth chart. If Pickett is not leading the fray, \u201cthe only other option is Shedeur because I believe he\u2019s the most talented quarterback on that roster.\u201d The Dawg Pound wants to see their new rookies get a shot under center. And Terron Armstead thinks somewhere around Week 6 would be when Stefanski finally gives Sanders the chance he\u2019s waiting for.<\/a> His minicamp performance has also impressed people all around. He notably got the most TDs (9), as well as the most completions. With Sanders balling out in training, that QB1 question? It\u2019s far from being answered yet for Stefanski.<\/p>\n