Due to the arrogance he displayed throughout his time with the Colorado Buffaloes in the NCAA, Shedeur Sanders likely never imagined himself in the position he currently finds himself. The son of NFL legend Deion Sanders likely pictured himself entering the league as a star, but today, he’s the fourth-string option for the Cleveland Browns.
In his final college season, Shedeur Sanders threw 37 touchdown passes and was projected to be a first-round pick – the second quarterback taken after Cam Ward. But that didn’t happen. Five quarterbacks were selected before him. Sanders wasn’t taken until the fifth round by Kevin Stefanski’s team.
Today, Shedeur Sanders faces a rocky road ahead, and the reality is that his future is uncertain. He’s a fifth-round pick, and ahead of him is Dillon Gabriel, taken in the third round of the most recent draft, as well as veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. That means whenever he gets even the smallest opportunity, he’ll have to prove he’s got the talent.
Shedeur Sanders will have to be patient
Right now, the conversation surrounding the Cleveland Browns franchise is centered on when Shedeur Sanders might get his first opportunity in the NFL – and at this point, it’s complicated. It’s also highly likely that the team will look for another quarterback in the 2026 Draft.
That said, Shedeur Sanders will likely get a chance in next year’s NFL preseason, and when he’s given the chance to step on the field, he’ll have no choice but to prove he has the talent – not just to impress the Browns, but to catch the eye of other teams. According to Browns insider Tony Grossi, it could be a long wait before Sanders takes his first official NFL snap.
“I think the plans for Shedeur have to be seen as a four-year plan, not a four-week one heading into the start of this season. I don’t think they feel any urgency to rush either of those guys. They want to develop them over time, and one may develop faster than the other. They probably think that will be Gabriel, due to all the extensive work they’ve done on him. That’s why they drafted him higher. I could see Shedeur spending much of this season inactive on Sundays.”
The situation is difficult for Shedeur, but if he truly has the talent and capability he showed week in and week out with the Buffaloes, he might surprise everyone. But if not, even his career could be at risk.
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