After a dramatic draft day fall, the major questions that emerged about Shedeur Sanders were related to his attitude. With reports emerging about his apparent problems during interviews and meetings with teams, every step of his NFL journey was sure to be scrutinized. Since then, he’s thankfully been more careful with his decisions, barring a few missteps.
His performances on the field have been solid throughout, with the media and coaches surrounding the Cleveland Browns waxing lyrical about the work he’s put in. However, he’s gone a step further to become a fan favorite in the community as well, something a former Ohio-native receiver believes sets the potential QB1 of the Browns apart from his competition.
Can Shedeur Sanders Win the Starting Job Like He’s Winning Over the Community?
After he fell to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the road to Sanders as a starting quarterback in the NFL became that much tougher. However, it was especially bad given his organization, as Cleveland currently houses five QBs on its roster.
While Deshaun Watson is slated to miss the entirety of next season, that still leaves Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel as competition for the son of the legendary two-time Super Bowl champion, Deion Sanders.
However, for Ohio’s very own, Cecil Shorts III, Sanders is doing something entirely unprecedented that makes him a joy to watch. A fourth-round pick in 2011, Shorts spent six seasons in the league, playing for the likes of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Houston Texans, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But, during an appearance on the 92.3 The Fan Radio for Cleveland, he made it clear that the Colorado Buffaloes’ superstar has an entirely unique love for the community, not usually seen in rookie players, let alone quarterbacks.
“I’ve never seen what Shedeur Sanders is doing this early on in a player’s career. I’ve never seen a rookie come into the league, and before he’s even played a snap, he’s already in the Garden Valley Project, or throwing a fun fest for people that are struggling after that fire.”
“I’ve never seen what Shedeur Sanders is doing this early on in a player’s career. All the things he’s doing (in the community).”
@CShortsIII with @EarldaPearl216 and @Spencito_ on the #Browns rookie QB
Listen: https://t.co/j5kLJwJ9pz pic.twitter.com/JApsMjz7hN
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) July 19, 2025
The work he’s doing in the Cleveland area to resonate with the fanbase is already starting to become the stuff of legend. The fest, as Shorts described in brief, was a heartwarming gesture to help families affected by an explosion and ensuing fire in the Rainbow Terrace Apartments.
He even made it clear, at the time, that he believed actually stepping in to do the work accounted for a lot. “Sending money and stuff, that is easy, but you have to actually go out there and be in the flesh. I feel like that’s more impactful.”
But it’s gone beyond just the one isolated incident. Shorts even pointed to the meet-and-greets Sanders did at popular fast food joints like KFC. The entire process began right from the get-go for the rookie QB.
As Shorts reminded folks, “As soon as he got drafted, the first week he was here, he goes to John Marshall High School.” The play on the field, as evidenced by the numbers he’s put up in the offseason so far, is giving optimism to fans in Cleveland that they might have their new future quarterback.
But this stuff off the field is what might make him a lifer. “It’s a special thing that he’s doing. That’s not normal. What he’s doing is he’s winning the fans over, he’s winning the city of Cleveland over.”
