NFL All-Pro sends blunt message to Shedeur Sanders and Browns QB room

The Cleveland Browns roll into training camp with a crowded quarterback room, including former Colorado standout Shedeur Sanders.

The fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft joins a group that includes veterans Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, and Kenny Pickett, as well as fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick from Oregon. With five quarterbacks on the roster and no clear-cut starter, Cleveland faces major competition at the position heading into the season.

Flacco is projected to start Week 1, but that's not a guarantee either. Given his experience and past success with head coach Kevin Stefanski, it's the most likely scenario. However, the Browns have a history of rotating quarterbacks, with nine starters over the last two seasons. Unfortunately, that trend could continue if injuries or underperformance occur in the initial weeks of the season.

Sanders may find himself on the field before the season ends. His Day 3 draft status means very little after already making an impact in Cleveland.

The situation has even drawn the attention of rival AFC East players. Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward poked fun at the Browns’ quarterback surplus of QBs on his podcast, “Not Just Football,” questioning the logic of rostering so many signal-callers. The comments were in part a response to Cleveland’s own jab at Pittsburgh in their schedule release video, which called the Steelers a “dumpster fire.”

“You don’t know what’s going on in Cleveland at the quarterback position. But you still have a lot of respect for guys like [Joe] Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel. How many different quarterbacks we got over there?” Heyward said.

Ironically, the Steelers have their own uncertainty at quarterback, with Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and Ohio State rookie Will Howard competing for the starting role. Aaron Rodgers is still an option at this point, but that would add another veteran into the mix. Sanders was linked to the Steelers before the draft and even took a visit to meet with coaches.

While the Browns may ultimately use the depth at the QB position this year, there’s growing speculation that Sanders could rise up the depth chart. Whether as a long-term answer or short-term solution 'Grown' may soon get his opportunity in Cleveland.