Two weeks after falling to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders has made his NFL debut at the Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp — and early impressions point to a strong start.
Over three days in Berea, Ohio, Sanders displayed the accuracy and poise that made him one of college football’s most talked-about quarterbacks the past two seasons at Colorado. He shared reps with fellow rookie QB Dillon Gabriel while quickly earning respect from teammates and staff alike.
“There’s a lot of stuff I can personally work on,” Sanders said after Saturday’s practice, “but overall, I think we came out with great energy. Everybody was working hard, working fast, and being efficient.”
Standing out in reps and leadership
With Cleveland’s quarterback room expected to be competitive this summer, rookie minicamp gave Sanders a crucial first opportunity to establish himself. Gabriel, the former Oregon Duck and fellow draft pick, took snaps alongside Sanders throughout the weekend.
Browns GM Andrew Berry said the staff structured the weekend around giving both rookies extended reps.
“Because we have two rookie quarterbacks, we are structuring it a little bit differently,” Berry told 92.3 The Fan. “It’s probably less about rookie minicamp and more about really taking advantage of the next four months.”
While on-field highlights have circulated online, it was Sanders’ work ethic that turned heads behind the scenes. Reports noted he was one of the last players to leave the field on both Friday and Saturday.
“I just find something I want to perfect and go after it,” Sanders said. “That’s all I really focus on — being there, being a leader, being a great teammate, doing what I need to do whenever it is.”
Is chemistry building with Browns teammates?
Shedeur’s transition to the NFL comes with a spotlight few other rookies carry. As the son of Coach Prime and the face of Colorado’s program resurgence, expectations follow him wherever he goes. But early signs suggest he’s adjusting well to a new environment.
During a team photoshoot over the weekend, fellow Browns rookies Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson hit Sanders’ signature “watch flex” during a rookie class photo. The gesture wasn’t just playful — it showed Sanders may be becoming a respected presence.
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
A stacked depth chart ahead
The challenge for Sanders is just beginning. Gabriel is only one piece of the puzzle in a quarterback room that also features veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. The Browns staff will spend the summer evaluating four QBs competing for a limited number of spots.
Still, Sanders has made it clear he’s approaching this moment with the right mindset — one that Buffs fans saw throughout his time in Boulder. Whether it was putting up 500 yards against TCU in the 2023 opener or staying composed behind a struggling offensive line, Sanders built a reputation for resilience.
What comes next
The next several months will be critical for Sanders. If he wants to make the Browns 53-man roster — or even push for a backup role — he’ll have to continue stacking days and maximizing every rep in front of head coach Kevin Stefanski and the Cleveland staff.
But if the rookie minicamp is any indication, he’s taking the right approach: keep your head down, let the work talk, and compete like your job depends on it — because it does.
