Shedeur Sanders experienced one of the most shocking draft day slides in recent NFL history. The former Colorado Buffaloes star entered the pre-draft process projected as a surefire first-round pick and potential top-five overall selection, but he slid to Day 3, where the Cleveland Browns stopped his fall in the fifth round.
His slide surprised many after he concluded his collegiate career with a strong season. The son of Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while completing 74.0% of his passes and rushing for four touchdowns.
Shedeur Sanders Faces Uphill Battle for Cleveland Starting Job
Sanders earned All-American honors and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year recognition while winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Those accolades typically translate to early draft selection, making his fifth-round landing spot even more puzzling for draft analysts.
While fifth-round quarterbacks usually start their NFL careers as backups or practice squad players, Sanders has a unique opportunity to compete for a starting job. He’s battling Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel to open the season as the Browns’ starter. However, a Hall of Famer recently revealed he doesn’t believe the rookie will earn the job.
Hall of Famer Suggests Sanders Won’t Open Season as Browns Starting Quarterback
T.J. Houshmandzadeh recently appeared on the Nightcap podcast, where he revealed that someone within the Browns organization who is not a player told him that either Pickett or Gabriel will open the season as the starter.
Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter discussed those comments on his Fully Loaded podcast, stating:
“If they were saying Shedeur was the starter as a fifth-rounder, you got a real problem, too, because he passed over all these guys in these reps in the offseason in shorts…,” Carter said.
“No, so I’m not that surprised,” he said. “And when you put down a third-round pick on a quarterback, you do believe he has a certain skill set. They didn’t ever think Shedeur would be around so that’s why I told you that I didn’t think that he was on their board.
“So, then once you get to the fifth round, they go ahead and take him as a commodity,” Carter said. “But I’m not surprised by T.J., what he’s saying at all. Pickett should be the starter if you look at potential, growth, understanding the division and NFL offenses. He should be the starter. Gabriel’s a third-round pick, why wouldn’t he be the backup?”
Carter labeled Flacco as an emergency option and a bandage to stop the bleeding if things go south. The Hall of Famer added that Sanders has received two speeding tickets this offseason when fifth-rounders are not supposed to make any noise off the field. He predicted that Pickett will win the starting role, while another quarterback will be moved before the season opener.
Why Sanders Faces Long Odds Despite College Success
Carter’s analysis highlights the reality facing Sanders in Cleveland. Despite his impressive college statistics and awards, his draft position creates an uphill battle. NFL teams typically invest more heavily in quarterbacks they view as immediate starters, and Cleveland’s third-round investment in Gabriel suggests they see him as the future.
Pickett brings NFL experience after spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, giving him familiarity with AFC North defenses. Gabriel’s higher draft position also works in his favor, as teams often feel pressure to justify their investment in earlier picks.
Sanders’ off-field issues, while minor, don’t help his cause as a late-round pick trying to prove himself. Fifth-round selections need to stay completely clean while fighting for roster spots, making any distractions potentially costly.
The Browns’ quarterback competition will likely extend through training camp and preseason games. Sanders will need to significantly outperform his competition to overcome the draft position disadvantage and earn the starting job many expected him to compete for as a first-round pick.
