{"id":43165,"date":"2025-05-12T02:41:14","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T02:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/43165\/"},"modified":"2025-05-12T02:41:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T02:41:14","slug":"browns-qb-shedeur-sanders-has-right-mindset-as-he-enters-nfl-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/43165\/","title":{"rendered":"Browns QB Shedeur Sanders has right mindset as he enters NFL career"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Former QB Alex Smith shares advice for Shedeur Sanders<\/p>\n

Former NFL quarterback Alex Smith shares advice for Shedeur Sanders after his shocking fall in the draft.<\/p>\n

Sports Seriously<\/p>\n

Shedeur Sanders<\/a> has the correct mindset as he embarks on his NFL career. The Cleveland Browns<\/a> rookie quarterback isn\u2019t discouraged by his much-publicized draft slide. Nor is Sanders operating like a fifth-round pick on the roster bubble.<\/p>\n

Sanders is conducting himself as though he has a chance to be the Browns<\/a> starting quarterback.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy job here isn\u2019t to prove people wrong,\u201d Sanders said to the media at Browns rookie minicamp. \u201cI prove myself right. I fully have self-belief.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five quarterbacks were picked in front of Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, despite Sanders being coined as the second-best quarterback in the class in several mocks. The Browns even selected quarterback Dillon Gabriel<\/a> in the third round before trading up in the fifth round to take Sanders.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a late-round draft pick, but we\u2019re here now. None of that stuff matters,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cI\u2019m just excited to be here and ready to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

BROWNS 2025 SCHEDULE: Cleveland’s opponents ahead of NFL’s official release<\/a><\/p>\n

Some factors contributed to Sanders\u2019 stunning draft fall<\/a>. But the silver lining is that Sanders enters a crowded but relatively weak quarterback room that consists of Joe Flacco<\/a>, Kenny Pickett<\/a>, Gabriel and Deshaun Watson<\/a> who is expected to miss the entire 2025 season due to an Achilles injury.<\/p>\n

Cleveland\u2019s subpar quarterback depth chart affords Sanders an opportunity to win the Browns starting job in Year 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just feel like, in life, in everything, it\u2019s just me versus me,\u201d Sanders said of the Browns\u2019 QB competition. \u201cI can\u2019t control any other decision besides that. I just try to be my best self at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Sanders were to become the Browns’ starting quarterback, he\u2019d have earned it. Reporters on the ground at Cleveland\u2019s rookie minicamp noted Gabriel took first reps over Sanders. However, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski cautioned not to read too much into who gets initial snaps at this juncture of the offseason.<\/p>\n

“I wouldn’t look into, really, anything,” Stefanski said on Friday. “I think you’ll see the whole weekend, going through the spring, we don’t pay too close attention to who’s in there first.”<\/p>\n

BROWNS QB DEPTH CHART: Cleveland’s quarterback room after drafting Shedeur Sanders<\/a><\/p>\n

Cleveland started seven quarterbacks in the past two seasons. Furthermore, the Browns have had 40 starting quarterbacks since 1999, the most in the NFL during that span. It’s nearly impossible for a franchise to be successful with the amount of quarterbacks the Browns have trotted out on the field in a quarterback-driven league.<\/p>\n

Consequently, the Brown have only finished four seasons above .500 since 1999.<\/p>\n

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, famously selected in the sixth round at pick No. 199 in the 2000 NFL Draft, told the “Impaulsive” podcast<\/a> that he reached out to Sanders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cUse it as motivation,\u201d Brady said of the advice he gave to Sanders. \u201cYou’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.'”<\/p>\n

If Sanders adheres to Brady\u2019s advice and performs well this offseason, he\u2019s got an opportunity to end the Browns\u2019 colossal quarterback merry-go-round. From first impressions, he\u2019s off to a positive start.<\/p>\n

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X\u00a0@TheTylerDragon<\/a>.<\/p>\n