Cleveland Browns Quarterback Shedeur Sanders Over-Hyped By Media At OTAs?

The Browns have used 40 different starting quarterbacks since returning to Cleveland in 1999 and are in desperate need of some stability at the position. Both Sanders and Gabriel have the potential to be the Browns' long term answer but media reports hype the former Colorado Buffaloes star off the charts.

Through rookie minicamp and Cleveland's OTAs, some reporters make it seem like Sanders is the next Tom Brady. Of course, the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, Shedeur could quite possibly have an incredible NFL career but are the expectations too high for someone who has yet to take one snap in the NFL?

"I don't mean to disparage anyone. I just really believe in what I said, that the media are doing him a disservice by over-inflating where he's at right now," said radio personality Tony Gross on ESPN Cleveland. "He's a developmental quarterback, just like Dillon Gabriel is. He's not a franchise quarterback. And I think the Browns recognize that and are, you know, taking their time and teaching them the way of their offense."

"Over-inflating expectations are just not good. I think it's fine to like him and to hope for him to be the guy. And to get excited when you see him, I just take offense to the reporting that he's clearly going to be the number one starter or he's clearly the top backup when he clearly is not," Grossi continued.

It's a solid point about bringing some reality to the unique scenario Browns coach Kevin Stefanski finds himself in with four quarterbacks vying to become Cleveland's starting quarterback for the 2025 NFL season.

It's possible the Cleveland Browns will trade one of the four quarterbacks before NFL Training Camp begins this July.

One of the challenges of four quarterbacks is limited reps. If Cleveland wants to give a real chance to one of the rookies to develop this offseason, it may look to trade or cut one of its veterans in Pickett or Flacco.

In the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland selected former Oregon Ducks quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Gabriel in the third round. It was not the Browns' plan to select two quarterbacks in the draft, but when former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Sanders had slid all the way to the fifth round, Cleveland felt it had to jump on the opportunity.

"We live by our board. We felt like he was a good, solid prospect at the most important position. We felt like it got to a point where he was probably mispriced relative to the draft. Really, the acquisition cost was pretty light, and it's a guy that we think can outproduce his draft slot," Cleveland GM Andrew Berry said. "Our expectation is for him to come in here and work and compete. Nothing's been promised. Nothing will be given."

Also, Deshaun Watson is still on the team but is likely out for 2025 after suffering a re-rupture of his injured Achilles.

NFL preseason begins for the Browns on the road vs. the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8. It'll be first look at Clevelands' quarterbacks in NFL action in Browns uniforms.