Shedeur Sanders’ selection by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round was quite the head scratcher, but the Colorado star is beginning to show why the franchise doubled up with two rookie quarterbacks.
In a crowded quarterback room that includes third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, Sanders has shown out at the Browns’ rookie minicamp both on the field and off of it. The highlight of Sanders’ performance came earlier today with a rocket down the field to Gage Larvadain.
“My job here isn’t to prove people wrong,” Sanders told the Cleveland Browns’ staff writer Kelsey Russo. “It’s to prove myself right.”
Shedeur launched a BOMB ☄️ pic.twitter.com/grlJcMGu8u
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 11, 2025
Sanders was criticized throughout the pre-draft process for his lack of arm strength, but that hasn’t been much of a problem at rookie minicamp. He’s brewing a connection with former Bowling Green tight end and fellow rookie Harold Fannin Jr, whom he connected with several times in drills.
Sanders’ teammates are already embracing him off the field, with a couple of his fellow rookies trying to sneak his “Perfect Timing” celebration into their rookie photo.
Q and Samp were messing with Shedeur and trying to hit the ⌚️ in the class photo 😂 pic.twitter.com/Vy29DPc3gl
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 10, 2025
Browns’ head coach Kevin Stefanski has given Gabriel the majority of first-team snaps, but has said that the rookie minicamp is the first step in the evaluation process, which will continue into the summer. Alongside Gabriel and Sanders, the Cleveland quarterback room includes veterans Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson.
