The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition has been a big talking point around the NFL this offseason, with four candidates battling it out for the starting job. Rookie fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders has appeared to be last in the pecking order, with the former Colorado star reportedly seeing far fewer opportunities on the practice field.
According to NFL analyst Mike Greenberg, though, the Browns will be making a big mistake if they continue to overlook Sanders in camp.
NFL Analyst Tips QB Shedeur Sanders to Win the Browns’ Starting Job Early
It’s fair to say that if former Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders were not one of the four quarterbacks competing for Cleveland’s starting role, the situation would receive far less attention.
Quarterback competitions are always of interest in the preseason, but a battle between Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, and third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel would hardly get pulses racing.
Sanders’ name and subsequent fame have attracted significantly more interest, with many voicing their frustration at the player’s lack of first-team reps. The quarterback has been reportedly struggling with pre-snap work since arriving in Cleveland, which has seen him training on his own at times, away from the rest of the team.
During a recent episode of “Get Up” on ESPN, Greenberg stated his belief that Sanders should have been drafted higher than he was. He then voiced his expectation that the young quarterback would win the starting job in Cleveland before too long.
Shedeur Browns QB1. #12 to Start Sooner Than Later
“Shedeur was the most under-drafted player I’ve ever seen. If the Browns don’t find a way for #12 to get enough reps, then that’s a mistake”
@GetUpESPN https://t.co/CKLE71Zife pic.twitter.com/KNjeZhJ9Nc
— JaKi (@JaKiTruth) July 24, 2025
“Shedeur Sanders was the most under-drafted player that I’ve ever seen. Not in the five years I’ve been hosting the draft, but as long as I’ve been paying attention to it,” he said. “Whether it’s week one, or it’s week four, or it’s week seven, I think we see Shedeur Sanders on the field early this year.”
Mike Greenberg Warns Cleveland About the Handling Of Shedeur Sanders During Training Camp
Greenberg then suggested that the Browns had a duty to find out how good Sanders is. According to several analysts, the quarterback was one of the best players in this year’s draft class. Greenberg suggested that the team should be doing everything it can to see if it has a star.
“In my opinion, if they don’t find a way for Shedeur Sanders to get enough reps to at least show you what he can or can’t do, then that’s a mistake.”
The belief that Cleveland isn’t doing its due diligence on one of its draft picks is wild, but nevertheless widespread. Taking the time to coach Sanders one-on-one about a specific area of the game that he struggles with is the polar opposite of overlooking the quarterback.
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Pre-draft, Sanders was lauded for his accurate arm and composure under pressure. He was, however, also a quarterback who took a lot of hits and was constantly under duress in the pocket. That pocket pressure was chalked down to poor offensive line play at Colorado, but it’s also possible that plays weren’t set correctly before each snap.
Stefanski is a respected former quarterbacks coach who has won NFL Coach of the Year in two of the last five seasons. If Sanders is the best quarterback on the Browns, he will get his chance on the field; the time it takes him to get there is far less critical.
