Rival Scout on Shedeur Sanders: ‘We Didn’t Like His Attitude’

When NFL training camps open in a few weeks, the Cleveland Browns quarterback competition will take center stage as perhaps the most compelling storyline of the summer. While the team’s highest-paid quarterback, Deshaun Watson, isn’t in the mix as he rehabs a twice-ruptured Achilles, four players are vying for the starting job: veteran Joe Flacco, former first-rounder Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

The Browns made headlines at the draft when they selected Sanders — who was expected to be a first-round pick — in the fifth round, a day after they took Gabriel in Round 3.

“Joe Flacco is their best bet to be competitive,” a rival scout told Athlon Sports. “He still throws a good ball.”

Flacco earned Comeback Player of the Year in 2023 when he signed with the Browns in November and led them to the playoffs. After playing for the Colts last season, Flacco, now 40, re-signed with Cleveland in April. Still, after the Browns went 3-14 last season, the team is looking to identify its quarterback of the future.

Even though Gabriel was drafted ahead of Sanders, it was the Colorado star who received the bulk of attention during the team’s minicamp in June. Fans and insiders alike remained unsure about how and why Sanders fell so precipitously in the draft. Given all the stories leading up to and during the draft about Sanders’ attitude, it’s likely that will continue to be the case when training camp begins.

The anonymous scout echoed much of what had been speculated about Sanders.

“Shedeur Sanders is a very polarizing guy,” the scout said. “We didn’t like his attitude and how he handled the draft process. He wasn’t prepared. He mailed it in at every step. He didn’t take it seriously enough.”

Those comments were made as part of the exclusive Browns scouting report in the Athlon Sports 2025 NFL Preview magazine, available online and at newsstands now.

This scout did add that Sanders has the potential to prove himself and become the Browns’ starter.

“If he figures out that he doesn’t have it all figured out and applies himself, I can still see him having success,” he said. “He’s got a lot of tools. He’s just not a great athlete, and he has to cut out some bad habits as far as taking sacks, staring down reads and patting the football excessively.”

Rookies are due to report to Browns training camp on July 18. Veterans report on July 25.