The Cleveland Browns might have made one of the most audacious moves I’ve seen in a long time, promoting rookie Shedeur Sanders to their starting quarterback. He’ll be in the driver’s seat for their Week 5 contest with the Minnesota Vikings. After failing miserably with veteran Joe Flacco, the team arrived at this decision. He got benched for a horrendous stretch in which he had eight turnovers in four games. For several reasons, Sanders is making a big transition with the Cleveland Browns. They’re hopeful that they can use his speed in decision making and powerful arm to jumpstart their disappointing 2023 campaign.
Sanders, drafted as the 144th pick in this year’s NFL draft, made his case early with astounding statistics and showings since then. He gets the ball out in an average of only 2.53 seconds. This blazing speed has him as the third-fastest QB with 30+ attempts in the NFL. Despite facing pressure, Sanders shows resilience. He’s thrown eight touchdown passes to three interceptions, despite being sacked nine times in just four starts. Under pressure, he has a total QBR of only 4.0 which is really bad. He dazzles with a remarkable mark of 68.2 when not pressured.
Sanders’ Rapid Rise
Sanders’ meteoric rise to become the team’s starting QB would be impressive enough for a rookie, but he’s shattered expectations. His performance against the Vikings will be closely monitored as he aims to lead the Browns to a rare road victory against their divisional rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his first career start, Sanders showcased his potential by throwing two touchdown passes, providing a glimpse of what he can bring to the field.
Sanders was a popular pick among coaches, too Brown’s coach Kevin Stefanski seemed quite confident in this selection. So I feel sometimes I always have to be aware of our players in our players’ development. In speaking about the decision to elevate Sanders over Flacco, he said, “I want to make sure I’m doing what’s best for our players at all times. Naturally, I need to do what’s best for our team as well. The club’s long-serving coach said that developing homegrown players and winning matches at the same time is a tough balance to strike.
This season, the Browns will have to monitor Sanders’ progress closely. The team now possesses two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft. This season is an audition not only for Sanders but for all of the other players around him. Stefanski was noncommittal about whether Sanders or practice squad QB Bailey Zappe will be backup going forward.
Analyzing Performance Under Pressure
Compared to his numbers when there’s no pressure, the difference is clearly night and day. He is terrible under pressure (defensive challenges), hitting only 9 of 24 passes at a mere 37.5%. This performance underscores a disturbing and alarming lack of preparation to perform under pressure. When given time to throw, his completion percentage jumps to 77%. He’s completed 65 of 84 passes under these circumstances.
This gap raises concerns about how he’ll succeed under the high-pressure scenarios of an NFL game. How will he fare against those rock-solid defenses, like the Steelers? The Browns feel that the more experience Sanders has, the better he’ll be at dealing with interior pressure. This incremental improvement is key for any quarterback who hopes to be successful in the NFL.
Stefanski even admitted to some of the challenges young quarterbacks experience and emphasized that whatever you do has to be in step with their development path. This practice demonstrates dedication to developing talent, while still meeting short-term team requirements.
Looking Ahead
Shedeur Sanders prepares for his battle with the Steelers. What remains to be seen is the impact he will have on the make-or-break success of this team. For the past few years, the Browns have struggled to find stability under center. Now, with Sanders in the fold, they’re prepared to start a new chapter focused on shoring up and re-energizing their offense.
Mark Andrews, a notable player in the league, remarked on the uniqueness of talents like Sanders and his potential influence on the game. Lamar is one-of-one though, because there ain’t never been nobody like Lamar. Ain’t nobody done it like Lamar. We’ve got a really good core group of offensive players that are proven. Finally, we’ll make the most of everybody’s talent,” he said, highlighting the value of collaboration as much as personal skill.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this season, as it unfolds, is the reality that Shedeur Sanders’ performance will be on trial every week. His potential to develop and flourish in high-stakes environments may very well determine his fate in Cleveland. It could impact the Browns’ long-term plans as they look ahead toward future drafts and potential changes to the veteran-heavy roster.
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