The Cleveland Browns are one of the more intriguing teams to watch this offseason. They're currently in the middle of a four-man quarterback competition — but it may be one of the weakest QB battles in the NFL. The most talked-about name is Shedeur Sanders, who was selected in the fifth round and has already been labeled as nothing more than a camp body.
“The reality for Shedeur Sanders is this: As a 5th round pick, it rarely matters how talented you are, you may never even get the opportunity to win the starting job,” Emmanuel Acho said. “Sometimes as a 5th, 6th, 7th round pick, they are already cutting you. You are a camp body, you are there for training camp.”
Despite doubts about his role on the field, Sanders has already made a major impression off it — especially in the Cleveland community.
“I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never seen what Shedeur Sanders is doing this early on in a player’s career,” Cecil Shorts said on Cleveland’s 92.3 The Fan. “I’ve never seen that before, I’ve never seen a rookie come into the league and before he even played a snap is already in the Garden Valley Projects … All the things he’s doing (in the community). It’s a special thing he’s doing, that’s not normal.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski recently hinted that a decision on the starting quarterback could come sooner rather than later. But a recent report from ESPN Cleveland’s Aaron Goldhammer suggests that things aren’t trending in Sanders’ favor.
“Shedeur Sanders apparently is throwing not to receivers but to equipment guys. They have got equipment guys snapping him the ball and then also running the routes. Mahomes is throwing to Kelce, Shedeur is throwing to equipment guys,” Goldhammer said.
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That’s not the kind of development a player wants while trying to secure a roster spot — let alone win the starting job. The fact that Sanders is throwing with equipment staff instead of teammates may indicate he’s currently viewed as the last option in the Browns’ quarterback room.