Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns’ fifth-round draft pick, is navigating the challenges of being a rookie quarterback with unwavering optimism. Despite receiving limited first-team reps during organized team activities (OTAs), Sanders remains focused on making the most of his opportunities. As a result, he frequently runs with a second-team barrel. It’s his desire to constantly improve that pushes him to be a difference maker for this group.
Throughout OTAs, Sanders split practice time with Dillon Gabriel, who took much of the first-team reps himself. Coach Kevin Stefanski acknowledged that the distribution of reps was intentional, allowing Sanders to build his understanding of the game while preparing him for future opportunities. Sanders is the embodiment of that industriousness. He proved that at the very least this offseason workout program and training camp, by honing in on fine-tuning his skills and know-how.
“The way I view it is as a positive,” Sanders said of his deficiency in reps. I was able to very much have a clear, real understanding and when it’s time for me to play, then it’s time for me to play. I don’t want to get ahead of myself on all that. I’m looking at every day in practice.
Sanders highlights an attitude of learning and building each other up. His aspiration is clear: “My goal is to be the best teammate and to be as polished as I can be in every aspect.” He knows that in football, what matters is winning, not the total of practice snaps played.
Once you’re on the field, there are no excuses. Once you’re in the game, no one gives a peep about how many reps you’ve maxed out on. He said, “Everybody cares about production.”
Where practice time is a source of discouragement to some, Sanders comes at it not with a deficiency model, but with an opportunity-focused lens. “Life is just based on how you view different things,” he noted, highlighting his belief that challenges can offer valuable learning experiences.
With more and more growth ahead among other rookie quarterbacks and backup talent, Shedeur Sanders is hungry to hone his craft even further. His determination to succeed collectively as a unit and individually himself bodes well for continued success in the Browns’ future.
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