The Cleveland Browns selected Shedeur Sanders after a multi-round slide in the 2025 draft. The former Colorado quarterback’s NFL debut hasn’t matched expectations for a school record-holder in passing yards.
Sanders currently sits fourth on Cleveland’s depth chart behind Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, and rookie Dillon Gabriel.
The transition has included off-field issues with multiple speeding tickets adding to his early struggles.
Tyvis Powell, an NFL veteran and Ohio native, sees troubling parallels with another recent Browns quarterback pick. Powell pointed to Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was also selected in the fifth round before being traded along with a draft pick to acquire Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles.
“DTR was a fifth-round pick. What did you expect from a fifth-round quarterback? Of course, he wasn’t going to look great. It’s not about being a fifth-rounder, it was about the preparation that player received to be ready to play,” Powell said on the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show.
Thompson-Robinson may ultimately have a longer tenure with the Browns than Sanders.
Sanders trails Gabriel in the rookie competition. The Browns could add another quarterback in the 2026 draft depending on their performance this season.
Pickett is expected to win the starting job. Flacco serves as the veteran backup option.
The timeline for Sanders remains uncertain. NFL teams move quickly when evaluating young quarterbacks.
Recent examples like Tim Tebow, Colin Kaepernick, and Tommy DeVito show how quickly the league can move on from players who don’t meet expectations.
Sanders needs to climb the depth chart soon to establish himself in Cleveland’s long-term plans.
