‘Best quarterback out there’ – Shedeur Sanders backed to start Week 1 as clear Browns favorite emerges

Despite entering the NFL as the 144th overall pick, Shedeur Sanders is generating as much buzz as anyone else in the league right now.

After an all-time slide to the fifth-round of the 2025 draft — despite being tipped by many as a top prospect — the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback landed with the Cleveland Browns.

He wasn’t even the first signal caller the franchise selected on draft weekend, with Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel arriving ahead of Sanders as a third-round pick.

The pair have joined a quarterback room that is led by veteran Joe Flacco, and they also have competition in the form of 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, who has arrived in Cleveland after spells with the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Deshaun Watson, who signed a $230million contract with the Browns, is not expected to be a factor next season after undergoing surgery for a re-rupture to his right Achilles tendon.

While there’s no doubt the quarterback room is crowded, and Flacco is the presumed Week 1 starter, it also offers an opportunity for a rookie to come in and snatch the role.

According to one Browns insider, that’s exactly what Sanders could do.

ESPN Cleveland’s Aaron Goldhammer on Thursday offered a massive endorsement of the young quarterback.

“I have come to a realization, oh boy, by the time we get to September… I think there’s a way Shedeur Sanders starts the first game,” Goldhammer said.

“Now that I’ve seen some videos and talked to a bunch of people and multiple practices, I think Shedeur Sanders was the best quarterback out there yesterday.

“I think now Shedeur is putting the draft slide behind him and showing why Mel Kiper thought he was the best quarterback in this draft.”

Goldhammer’s suggestion is certainly bold, and it’s not one that’s been echoed by all of his fellow insiders.

Zac Jackson of The Athletic has reported that in the early stages of the four-man quarterback competition, veteran Flacco is ahead of rookies Gabriel and Sanders.

“Flacco is probably ahead of Kenny Pickett, too,” Jackson wrote this week.

“Flacco throws the ball in a practice setting better than any of them. Add his overall experience, and he’s the favorite to win the job, unless (Kevin) Stefanski and others in the organization just favor Pickett — or unless Pickett outplays Flacco in the coming months.”

Of course, there is plenty of time for things to change ahead of the new season.

Sanders has already been impressing in practice, and has even broken one of Baker Mayfield’s NFL records on the practice field.

While the 23-year-old is showing positive signs, Pickett will apparently need to step up his game if he’s going to take the starting role.

Browns writer Scott Petrak noted that during Wednesday’s OTAs, the 27-year-old played with the first team in 11-on-11 drills and ‘struggled’.

Petrak added that Pickett was ‘nearly intercepted multiple times’ during practice.

Perhaps then, if Sanders continues to impress, there is a window for him to stake a claim for that starting spot.

He has already proved he’s willing to put in the work, and on Saturday posted a carousel of black and white, high-energy photos from Browns practice.

The soundtrack he chose for the post, which did not feature a caption, was Kylie Minogue’s 2001 hit ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head.’

It has already racked up more than 125,000 likes on Instagram.

As Sanders continues to make an impression both on and off the field, Browns head coach Stefanski is not likely to confirm his QB decision until August rolls around.

But one thing is for sure: All eyes will be on Cleveland in the coming months.

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