The latest report from Cleveland has crushed all talks of Shedeur Sanders eclipsing Dillon Gabriel in rookie workouts. That makes the chances of Sanders starting for the Browns in 2025 close to slim, but still possible.
From the looks of it, both Sanders and Gabriel could be battling for a backup QB role, a role that could potentially demand that Sanders be an emergency starter.
Insider Tony Rizzo strongly believes that a start for the Browns this season could be the watershed moment for his professional ascent.
"It wouldn't surprise me if somehow it comes down to Shedeur making a few emergency starts and light his career on fire. He needs to play meaningful games to try and win. That's what he does: win. He's not a workout warrior, he's not gonna throw a ball through a brick wall. He's not gonna run a 4.3 40. But when you put him in a situation where he's got to win a game, man, that kid is the stuff as they come," Rizzo says on his podcast.
"It's what I love about him: toughness. And there's no way to gauge it unless he gets into a game that counts. I know there's something about this kid that I think is special," Rizzo continued.
Sanders could prove himself to be a worthy player coming off the draft's fifth round, given he gets a chance to start for the Browns.
Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, followed by Kenny Pickett, then Gabriel, and finally Sanders, is the order in which the Browns will presumably name their starters, until they make an official announcement.
If this is how Kevin Stefanski decides to go at the end of the offseason, Sanders might as well be left scrambling for a spot on the final roster. A lot will depend on how Sanders carries out his remaining off-season workouts.