Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback once heralded as a top prospect, has begun his professional journey after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the NFL Draft. Entering the league with great expectations, he has navigated a challenging start as he secures his position on the Browns’ roster. Sanders finally made his debut on the field in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. As the No. 3 quarterback, Bagent started to feel the squeeze from jump, standing behind veteran Joe Flacco and fellow QB Kellen Gabriel.
Once Gabriel went into concussion protocol at halftime, Sanders couldn’t wait to take center stage. It was a big moment for the young player, and for his young career. Even with the opportunity, he struggled mightily in his first half-dozen starts. He somehow managed a horrendous 30.9 QBR while hitting just half of his attempts (50.8%) with 405 passing yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. There’s been growing concern over his preparedness to call the shots at the next level.
Draft Day and Early Career
Shedeur Sanders to the draft as a highly regarded quarterback. ESPN senior draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. went so far as to rank him the top QB prospect. People like Scouts Inc. named him one of the most gifted high school prospects heading into the 2025 NFL draft cycle. Though getting all this praise he was still a big name that had a significant drop down the draft board.
“Cam had the crazy numbers at the FCS levels, doing all the stuff that he had done. Shedeur was playing like that as well.” – Darrell Colbert Jr.
After the draft, Sanders remained in Colorado. He collaborated with Colbert to improve his play leading up to the draft in preparation for joining the Browns. Colbert’s experience and insight were key assets as Sanders adapted to a new level of competition.
Navigating Challenges
Sanders’ move to the NFL hasn’t been without its challenges. After making the Browns’ 53-man roster, he quickly found himself thrust into a critical role when Gabriel’s injury created an opening for him to play against the Ravens.
Even with all the buzz surrounding his first game, Sanders had a tough day on the field. His performance numbers suggest there’s plenty of work to do in all areas of his game. Even when he was statistically poor with a low completion percentage, he faced hurdles that challenged his body and his mind.
“I think there’s certain things that — certain areas that I need to improve in, quickly.” – Shedeur Sanders
Sanders in particular is acutely aware of the pressure that comes with taking the stage with everything on the line. He knows that proving yourself is the name of the game in a cutthroat, prove-it-or-lose-it league where all 17 games matter.
Competing Against Peers
Sanders isn’t the only one making this adventurous trip and that’s because other quarterbacks are along for the ride. Cam Ward, for example, similarly came into the league with lofty expectations. Ward’s reflections on their common journeys, as informative as they are inspiring, highlight the competitive stakes of their roles.
“God has a plan for me. He has a plan for [Shedeur]. At the end of the day, you just got to continue to prove yourself right.” – Cam Ward
More than defending champion on defending champion crime Ward marvels most at the respect between both quarterbacks. They have faced these same pressures on their path to prosperity. They found their chemistry while playing at Trinity Christian High School in Cedar Hill, Texas. In Boston, they trained together and their camaraderie grew.
“I knew both of these guys were very competitive,” – Darrell Colbert Jr.
As they take their different journeys through the NFL, both starting quarterbacks know that the key to success is sticking with it and getting better every day.
“So we just got to continue to stay in the everyday mindset of getting better, and not letting bad outcomes dictate the next day.” – Cam Ward
Looking Ahead
As Shedeur Sanders finds his place in the Browns’ intriguing young core, he arrives at an important crossroads heading into year three. The next few weeks will be make or break for him. His next goal is to learn from his first starts and continue to process and maximize his experience to sharpen his skills.
It’s equally important to understand his struggles thus far. All first year signal callers face this very same trial when they take their first leap into the world of big boy football. Coaches like Colbert offer an enormous help. Contemporaries such as Ward stoke Sanders’ contrarianism, forging a political crucible ideal for his emergence.
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