Browns Make Opinion Of Shedeur Sanders Clear With Rookie Minicamp Decision

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated May 9, 2025 4:31 PM ET

There was a ton of hype surrounding the start of rookie minicamp for the Cleveland Browns this Friday because of Shedeur Sanders.

The Browns selected Sanders with the 144th pick in this year's draft. It was a shocking move considering the front office drafted former Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round. However, the former Colorado star's value was just too good to pass up on Day 3.

"Shedeur Sanders is an impressive young man and a really good QB," Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on April 26. "Sometimes, fit comes into play. He has a ton of resolve and I think he’s going to find himself in a really good spot."

While the Browns may have said all the right things after the NFL Draft, it's pretty evident Sanders has work to do in order to make the 53-man roster.

Not only is Sanders behind Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett on the depth chart, he's apparently trailing Gabriel as well.

On Friday afternoon, Gabriel received the first-team reps at rookie minicamp. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about that decision.

"Yeah, I wouldn't look into anything," Stefanski told reporters. "You'll see the whole weekend and going through the spring."

It's possible Sanders gets the first-team reps at Saturday's practice. For now though, it sounds like Gabriel is ahead of him.

The Browns have already said that Sanders has to earn a spot on the Week 1 roster, so maybe fans shouldn't be too surprised by this move.

"I’m going to sound like a broken record here — but it’s to make the team, nobody here has made the team yet. So it’s making the team. And then after that, it’s earning a role. That’s the same thing for Shedeur," Berry said this week, via ProFootballTalk.

Do you think Sanders will leapfrog Gabriel in the quarterback room?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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