Shedeur Sanders has the correct mindset as he embarks on his NFL career. The Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback isn’t discouraged by his much-publicized draft slide. Nor is Sanders operating like a fifth-round pick on the roster bubble.
Sanders is conducting himself as though he has a chance to be the Browns starting quarterback.
“My job here isn’t to prove people wrong,” Sanders said to the media at Browns rookie minicamp. “I prove myself right. I fully have self-belief.”
Five quarterbacks were picked in front of Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, despite Sanders being coined as the second-best quarterback in the class in several mocks. The Browns even selected quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round before trading up in the fifth round to take Sanders.
“I was a late-round draft pick, but we’re here now. None of that stuff matters,” Sanders said. “I’m just excited to be here and ready to work.”
Some factors contributed to Sanders’ stunning draft fall. But the silver lining is that Sanders enters a crowded but relatively weak quarterback room that consists of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Gabriel and Deshaun Watson who is expected to miss the entire 2025 season due to an Achilles injury.
Cleveland’s subpar quarterback depth chart affords Sanders an opportunity to win the Browns starting job in Year 1.
“I just feel like, in life, in everything, it’s just me versus me,” Sanders said of the Browns’ QB competition. “I can’t control any other decision besides that. I just try to be my best self at all times.”
If Sanders were to become the Browns’ starting quarterback, he’d have earned it. Reporters on the ground at Cleveland’s rookie minicamp noted Gabriel took first reps over Sanders. However, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski cautioned not to read too much into who gets initial snaps at this juncture of the offseason.
‘I wouldn’t look into, really, anything,’ Stefanski said on Friday. ‘I think you’ll see the whole weekend, going through the spring, we don’t pay too close attention to who’s in there first.’
Cleveland started seven quarterbacks in the past two seasons. Furthermore, the Browns have had 40 starting quarterbacks since 1999, the most in the NFL during that span. It’s nearly impossible for a franchise to be successful with the amount of quarterbacks the Browns have trotted out on the field in a quarterback-driven league.
Consequently, the Brown have only finished four seasons above .500 since 1999.
Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, famously selected in the sixth round at pick No. 199 in the 2000 NFL Draft, told the ‘Impaulsive’ podcast that he reached out to Sanders.
“Use it as motivation,” Brady said of the advice he gave to Sanders. “You’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.”
If Sanders adheres to Brady’s advice and performs well this offseason, he’s got an opportunity to end the Browns’ colossal quarterback merry-go-round. From first impressions, he’s off to a positive start.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.