Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam had encouraging words for Shedeur Sanders at the NFL owners meetings Monday, but also made clear his path to the starting job will have to be earned.
Sanders entered the league as one of the most polarizing prospects in recent draft memory — widely projected as a top-five pick before sliding to the fifth round, where the Browns selected him at No. 144 overall. He opened the season buried on the depth chart but steadily climbed into the starting role, flashing both promise and growing pains along the way.
In seven starts, Sanders threw for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, showing resilience and playmaking ability. His breakout moment came in Week 14 against Tennessee, when he erupted for 364 passing yards and accounted for four total touchdowns.
Sanders is in the mix to start next season but will have to come out victorious in what the Browns have dubbed an open competition. Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson are the other options on the Browns’ roster.
But Sanders has been putting in the work and catching Haslam’s attention. He recently ran into Sanders during an early-morning workout at the team facility in Cleveland and came away impressed.
“I was in Cleveland two or three weeks ago, and was working out early and he was coming in,” Haslam said on Monday at the NFL owners meetings. “He’s been in Cleveland most of the winter, and I think that says a lot for his dedication to wanting to be a NFL quarterback and understanding what it takes. His body looks better.”
Deshaun Watson Firmly in Mix for Browns
Haslam generated bigger headlines Monday for his endorsement of Watson, projecting that the veteran has a legitimate shot at winning the starting job under new head coach Todd Monken.
“Deshaun has a great chance, fresh start, offensive minded coach, who has, in his past, been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make him successful,” Haslam said. “So Deshaun has a great chance to do that now. We talked to him the other day. He said he weighed less than he had in several years, was in great shape. He’ll be here on April 7 when we start (the offseason program) and let’s see what Deshaun can do. We’re all excited.”
But Haslam also thinks that Sanders will head into next season with more confidence and valuable experience under his belt.
“He’s been working hard,” Haslam said. “It’s hard for a lot of college kids to understand what it takes to play in the NFL, and particularly as a quarterback. Shedeur got an education in that, and my instincts are he’ll come back ready to play.”
Haslam Distances Himself From Browns QB Decision
Sanders would win the popular vote to be QB1 for the Browns next season. And Haslam understands the potential value in that. But when it comes to the actual decision, the owner made it clear he’s staying out of the way.
“First of all, I’m not making the decision,” Haslam said. “Todd will make that decision, and I assure you he’s going to go on who can win the most games first.”
Haslam previously pushed back against the narrative that he had engineered the selection of Sanders, insisting Berry made the call.
The Browns announced Monday that Sanders will return to his college number, No. 2, next season. It’s a move that’s expected to drive another spike in jersey sales for Cleveland’s marketable young quarterback. And it will only add fuel to the growing belief that Sanders deserves the starting job.