The Cleveland Browns' quarterback battle is intensifying. In a novel approach to finding a new signal-caller in the short term, the Browns opted to use third- and fifth-round draft picks on Oregon's Dillon Gabriel and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders -- who are competing with veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett for snaps on a rebuilding Cleveland team.
Sanders though has defied expectation. Long forecast as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders slipped all the way to the 144th pick, a steep fall for last season's Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
But by no means does this mean Sanders' NFL dream is over before it has started. According to former Super Bowl champion LeSean McCoy, Sanders remains firmly in the mix for the Browns' job because head coach Kevin Stefanski sees a champion work ethic in him.
"Don't let the jewelry, the music and the swagger fool you," McCoy said on "The Facility." "The first thing the head coach said is 'hey, he's the first one in the building and last to leave.' Sounds like someone I know. His name was Tom Brady."
During a career which saw him win a record seven Super Bowl titles, Brady was famed for his work ethic as a former seventh-round pick with little to no NFL expectations. Brady eventually became regarded as the greatest quarterback of all-time in part due to his preparation and foundation for success -- habits that McCoy, a six-time Pro Bowl running back, saw firsthand as Brady's teammate on the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Seeing as Shedeur Sanders' Browns jersey is already a strong seller, McCoy now takes it for granted that Deion Sanders' son will make Cleveland's 53-man roster. But he offered a bolder prediction beyond that: Sanders will be the starter when the Browns take the field against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1.
"The thing I love about Shedeur is he seems way more focused. (He's saying) 'I'm here, and I'm not here to be somebody's backup,'" McCoy said. "I think he's going to be starting the first five games. The 'make the team' stuff is over with."