Shedeur Sanders, Browns’ QB1: Analysis and Expectations on Alofoke Deportes

Shedeur Sanders ready for his starting debut with the Browns

Since the Cleveland Browns selected quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft, the team has been developing him as a long-term player. Sanders, the fourth quarterback added during the offseason, began the season as fourth on the depth chart, behind veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. He did not receive any repetitions with the first team during the summer. Browns general manager Andrew Berry compared Sanders’ transition to the pros to someone who was “fluent in English and now has to learn Mandarin.” Sanders began Cleveland’s regular season on September 7 as the third quarterback behind Flacco and Gabriel. Pickett was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders before the roster cutdown day. Sanders then took over the backup role after Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals on October 7. During the Browns’ Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Gabriel suffered a concussion and Sanders entered the game at the start of the second half. After an uneven and unexpected debut in which he completed 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards with an interception and was sacked twice, the 23-year-old player will have another opportunity to show his growth in Week 12. With Gabriel still in concussion protocol, Sanders will make his first professional start on Sunday against the Raiders, becoming the 42nd quarterback to start for the Browns since the franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999. Questions arise about Sanders’ first ownership, including how coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will maximize the rookie’s skill set in Cleveland’s offense and how this move impacts the team’s offseason personnel strategy when deciding on quarterback depth and possibly the future face of the franchise. There has been much talk about the practice repetitions given (or not given) to Sanders since he arrived in Cleveland, but Stefanski has trusted his staff’s plan for the fifth-round pick from Colorado. With 13 rookies on the active roster, including two rookie quarterbacks, Stefanski, who is in his sixth season as head coach, has modified the practices. He divided the practice field in two to maximize repetitions during the summer and has implemented post-practice sessions for young developing players like Sanders. Although Sanders wasn’t getting initial practice reps like Gabriel did when he was Flacco’s backup during the season, Sanders has run the scout team offense and received reps in simulation environments. Sanders said after his debut on Sunday against Baltimore that the post-practice reps helped him understand the concepts, but acknowledged that he needs to develop chemistry with the starting unit. “I don’t think I played well at all. I think there are a lot of things we need to analyze during the week and just get comfortable even throwing routes with [wide receiver] Jerry [Jeudy] and throwing routes with all those guys. I think that was my first ball to him all year,” he said. Sanders will finally get those practice reps with the first team this week.

You want to make sure all the concepts are things he feels comfortable with. Obviously, having been around him for months, you have a good idea of the things that fit his eye, so to speak. So I definitely want to lean into those kinds of things and he’s working very hard.

Stefanski

Strengths and Areas for Improvement of Shedeur Sanders

The placement of the ball and composure are among Sanders’ best qualities, as demonstrated by his experience in college (25 starts at Colorado and 25 more at Jackson State). In his final season in Colorado, he had a 74% completion percentage, the highest in the FBS, and his 6.5% deflection rate was the third-lowest. When protected and in rhythm, Sanders has enough arm strength to get the ball to his spots and is accurate when throwing to the underneath areas of the field. However, Sanders still needs to learn when plays end. He tends to drift in the pocket, looking for the perfect play, and that can result in big losses when things don’t open up quickly. He took 42 sacks last season as the Buffaloes’ starting quarterback. Getting the ball to his checkdown or simply looking to gain yards as a runner will be key as he adapts to starting in the NFL.

How Stefanski and Rees Can Optimize Sanders’ Performance

During the rookie’s mid-game in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens, Baltimore took advantage of Sanders’ inconsistent pocket handling and the Browns’ offensive line’s struggle by sending a variety of blitzes. Sanders finished 0-for-5 against the blitz and just 1-for-7 with an interception and two sacks under pressure, according to ESPN Research. Rees, who took over as the Browns’ playcaller in Week 10, tried to help Sanders by having him roll in the pocket and designing quick reads to get the ball out of his hands in rhythm. The Raiders don’t blitz frequently, but given Sanders’ problems in his debut and the injuries on Cleveland’s offensive line (starting tackles Jack Conklin and Cam Robinson are day-to-day with knee injuries), the Browns should expect similar looks in Las Vegas and will need to be prepared with answers. A well-executed, run-based game plan would also help keep Sanders in advantageous down and distance situations.

Will the Browns go back to Gabriel once he’s healthy?

Immediately after Sunday’s game against Baltimore, Stefanski committed to Gabriel as the starter if the quarterback cleared concussion protocol. Stefanski also said he didn’t want to speculate whether Sanders could keep the starting position with a strong performance against the Raiders.

This coach’s stance aligns with previous comments he has made and supports how he hasn’t wavered on Gabriel’s position as QB1, even as the offense has surpassed 20 points only once since he took over as the starter in Week 5.

An impressive performance by Sanders would be an interesting decision for the Browns’ Week 13 game against the San Francisco 49ers, but Stefanski has given no indication that he would consider a permanent change to Sanders, making Sunday’s game in Las Vegas potentially pivotal in future QB decision-making.

Obviously, I’m focused on this game.

Stefanski

Impact on the Browns’ Draft Strategy

With the Browns having two first-round picks in 2026, the performance of Sanders and Gabriel will impact Cleveland’s draft strategy. Owner Jimmy Haslam said it was “absolutely” important to evaluate both rookie quarterbacks on the field this season, and with the decision to start Sanders in the wake of Gabriel’s injury, the Browns will have the opportunity to see both passers lead the offense. Before his concussion, Gabriel struggled in his four starts, posting a Total QBR of 30.9 which ranks him 31st out of 32 qualified passers, just above Tennessee Titans rookie Cam Ward. Sanders’ debut got off to an even worse start: he recorded a QBR of 2.4 in the second half of Sunday’s game, but there is an internal belief that Sanders will produce a better performance with a full week of practice reps. The Browns have 10 draft picks, including their two first-round picks, in the 2026 draft. With an offense that has fallen far behind an elite defense, Cleveland will likely target improvements on the offensive line and at skill positions, which will be spearheaded by the quarterback position.

Will the Browns look for a new QB1 in the offseason?

The possibilities are moderately high. Armed with two first-round picks (one coming from the 2025 trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars), the Browns will have ample opportunities to secure a passer at the top of the draft. The 2026 quarterback class is considered weaker than announced at the beginning of the college football season, but several passers will prove worthy of a first-round rating. Cleveland is expected to possess picks number 2 and 19 according to current records and ESPN’s Football Power Index. That’s a unique opportunity to find a long-term solution at the most important position in the game. Daniel Jones will be the top free agent quarterback, and although the Indianapolis Colts will work to bring back the veteran quarterback, anything is possible in free agency. While the Browns have a high opinion of Gabriel, most of the teams I’ve spoken with project him as a quality number 2 in the league. Perhaps he can change that perception during the last six or seven weeks or prove to be a bridge option in 2026. But either way, the Browns are well-positioned to make a bold statement this offseason.