This offseason, Shedeur Sanders has been making waves with the Cleveland Browns. He stepped into a crowded quarterback room and is vying for the starting role in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Drafted to bring fresh energy, Sanders is up against veteran Joe Flacco, who is entering his 18th NFL season; Kenny Pickett, who has two years as a starter and a Super Bowl season under his belt; and rookie Dillon Gabriel, who was selected 50 picks before Sanders.

Disappointing Reflex Drill From Sanders

A recent training session took an unexpected turn when the Browns put Sanders through a reflex drill, and the results weren’t pretty. In a now-widely shared video, the rookie quarterback faced a simple test: catch falling sticks before they hit the ground. What should have been a showcase of quick hands turned into a cringe-worthy moment. Sanders flailed, missing nearly every stick as they dropped around him.

Laughter echoed off-camera, and fans flooded social media with a mix of jokes-some calling him “slow-motion Sanders”-and shrugs, saying it’s not a big deal. Compared to fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who handled the drill with ease, Sanders came up short, leaving many wondering if this could hint at Stefanski’s eventual call on the starting gig. It’s a rough look for a player trying to prove himself but at the end is just an activation for the Browns’ social media team, nothing more than that.

The Browns are looking to stabilize the quarterback position, which has been a revolving door since 1999 with 40 different starters, including Deshaun Watson, who seems won’t be returning in 2025. Sanders has shown promise, but with training camp approaching (July 18 for rookies and July 22 for veterans), every one of his moves is under scrutiny as Coach Kevin Stefanski considers his options for the August 8 preseason opener against the Panthers.

Dillon locked in on these reaction tests@NFLPA | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/CBamW0kans

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 9, 2025

Quarterback Race Heats Up for Browns’ Future

Right now, Kenny Pickett seems to hold the edge in this quarterback battle. With two seasons starting for Pittsburgh and a Super Bowl ring as a backup with the Eagles last season, he brings experience that Sanders and Gabriel are still chasing. Flacco, a seasoned pro, might slide into the No. 2 spot for his 18th campaign, but the rookies will need to fight tooth and nail to claim the top job.

With Watson and others gone, the door’s open for a fresh face. The next big hint will come when training camp starts later this month. Stefanski’s got a tough choice ahead, and Sanders’ shaky reflex test might just linger in the back of his mind as the preseason kicks off against the Panthers.