Shedeur Sanders left Cleveland Brownscoaches impressed with his accuracy and poise during his limited time at rookie minicamp. The former Colorado star was throwing with the kind of touch you expect from a seasoned NFL veteran. Despite entering the league under what some consider a form of “punishment” from NFL team owners who passed on him until the fifth round, Sanders has already started to exceed expectations.
Sanders recently wrapped up a Browns practice session with his ‘arm on fire.’ During a precision passing drill, he connected on nearly every throw, hitting his receivers in stride and showing off both technique and arm strength. Focused and calm, he looked like a player who knows exactly what he’s doing. And really, that’s all he needs to do right now: prove he belongs.
Shedeur Sanders proves his arm is NFL-ready
As the Browns’ rookie quarterback, Shedeur joins the rest of the NFL’s 2025 rookie class in a fight for roster spots. Veterans aren’t going to give up their jobs without a battle, and rookies like Sanders will have to earn every inch. The competition is fierce, everyone wants to be QB1, and nobody’s handing out starting roles.
Sanders will be competing not only against other rookies but also against veterans already on the Browns’ depth chart. He’ll have to go head to head with fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who played at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon before being drafted in the third round. On top of that, the Browns also have experienced QBs like Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett on the roster, making the path to QB1 even more challenging.
Deshaun Watson, the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, will miss the entire 2025 NFL season due to a re tear of his Achilles tendon. With Watson sidelined, Kenny Pickett is currently considered the frontrunner to start the season under center.
Right now, Sanders doesn’t even appear on the Browns’ official depth chart but that could change quickly. Reports out of minicamp say he’s been showing flashes of high level talent. If he somehow earns the starting job, Sanders could become a serious contender for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. It wouldn’t be the first time a late-round pick made headlines just ask Dak Prescott, who won the award in 2016 after being drafted in the fourth round.
The Browns rookie quarterback might be on his way to making several teams look foolish for passing on him. His early performances are already raising eyebrows and increasing the hype around his name. If Shedeur continues this momentum into training camp and the preseason, don’t be surprised if he becomes one of the breakout stories of the year for both himself and the Browns.
Read the full article here