During the preseason, much of the spotlight was on young quarterback Shedeur Sanders. First came the draft drama. He was not selected in the first five picks, where many expected him to land with an NFL franchise. Instead, he fell all the way to 144th overall.
On the other hand, once that hurdle passed, another storyline emerged. Arch Manning, widely projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, was expected to be the record-breaking star at Texas. Yet in his first start, his performance was disappointing.
All of this scrutiny stems primarily from their last names. Unfortunately for both, their predecessors, Shedeur’s father and Arch’s uncles-set an extremely high bar. Now expectations weigh on them to be superstars from the very moment they stepped onto the field.
Shedeur earns a spot in Cleveland
When Sanders arrived with the Cleveland Browns, questions immediately surfaced: would he be cut, allowed to play, or harshly judged from the start? Fortunately, none of those fears materialized. The young quarterback, son of Deion Sanders, managed to secure a place on the final roster. By a twist of fate-or perhaps luck, following Kenny Pickett’s departure to the Las Vegas Raiders, he now belongs to the team set to face the 2025 season.
Still, speculation continues over whether he should eventually lead the franchise. Head coach Kevin Stefanski named veteran Joe Flacco as the starter, with Dillon Gabriel in the backup role. Sanders was slotted third on the depth chart, which was widely expected. He needs time to mature, and when his chance arrives, he must seize it. The situation is reminiscent of Dak Prescott’s early path with the Dallas Cowboys.
Arch Manning struggles in his first start
Things were no easier for Arch Manning. The tremendous hype that surrounded him appeared to vanish quickly. Long praised by analysts, he looked unprepared in his debut, struggling against Ohio State’s relentless defense, which made his Saturday afternoon miserable.
Yet patience is required. Manning is expected to gain confidence over time and showcase the talent that made him so highly regarded, silencing doubters-though he does not need to prove anything beyond his own growth. His head coach, Steve Sarkisian, defended him after the loss, acknowledging it was a tough afternoon but stressing that hard work in practice would be the solution. That, he insisted, is the key.
Dez Bryant comes to their defense
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant spoke up for the two young quarterbacks who not only battle on-field struggles but also carry the burden of their famous surnames.
I feel bad for Shedeur Sanders and Arch Manning… All I see down my timeline is hate for each player… These dudes wanna play football… Allow their play to determine if they are good or not… One game doesn’t define either QB.
Both guys have what it takes to be great.
The road is just beginning for both quarterbacks, but they will need powerful mental resilience to prevent outside noise from derailing them. Their task is to continue forging their own path, ignoring the haters and leaning on family support.
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