Coming into the 2025 NFL Draft, most analysts weren’t fearful to admit that Shedeur Sanders had his fair share of flaws. Despite that, he was considered by most to be the second-best quarterback in the draft. Clearly, the NFL didn’t see it that way. Sanders fell all the way to the fifth round, watching as less-productive signal-callers got the call ahead of him.
Sanders has handled it all with class, putting his head down and working quickly to make an impression with Cleveland Browns coaches while also developing strong bonds with his new teammates. While some veterans might not love a big personality like Sanders coming in and trying to take a leadership role, the former Colorado product has impressed early on with his strong character and charisma. It’s not only veterans who have taken notice.
Duing OTAs, the Browns set up a camera and asked Browns players which teammate would be best to do a TED Talk. Surprisingly, Sanders doesn’t know what a TED Talk is. But when running back Dylan Sampson picked Sanders and explained it to him, Sanders was grateful for the compliment, telling his fellow rookie “I appreciate it“. Sampson called Sanders very opinionated on just about everything.
Who is Dylan Sampson, one of Shedeur Sanders’ closest Browns teammates?
Sampson seems to be close to Sanders, which makes sense considering they come into the NFL with some similarities. Sampson and Sanders both saw the Browns draft competition at their position before they themselves were selected: Quinshon Judkins and Dillon Gabriel, respectively.
Both Sampson and Sanders come in with a chip on their shoulders, and are in a battle for snaps. Sampson has a slightly clearer path to playing time, as Judkins is a rookie and Jerome Ford is more of a role-playing running back. Sampson brings something to the table the other two don’t have, either: elite game speed.
Sampson and Sanders have been spending plenty of time together, not just because they’re both rookies, but because they are taking reps with the third and fourth teams. Both have to work their way up, but both are more than talented enough to do it.
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