Shedeur Sanders finally made his first appearance with the Cleveland Browns last Sunday. Our first impression of him was not great. Sanders went 4/16 for 47 yards and an interception, while being sacked twice. Anytime the Ravens sent pressure, Sanders was definitely uncomfortable and struggled to make decent throws. With Dillon Gabriel in concussion protocol, Sanders is going to make the start this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Could Sanders be the spark on offense the Browns have been looking for all season?
This start from Shedeur has been long anticipated from fans. After we got a first look at Sanders on Sunday, fans were divided. Some made excuses for Sanders, such as that he never had reps with the first string team, that Stefanski sabotaged him, or it was simply the inclement weather. Whatever the case from last week, Sanders will have a full week of reps to prepare himself for the Raiders this upcoming Sunday. Most sources have the Raiders as a three point favorite over the Browns. The Browns selected him in the fifth round with the 144th overall pick. Shedeur was a low-risk, high-reward pick for the Browns. This is Shedeur perfect opportunity to put on display the mistake the other 31 franchises made.
This upcoming Sanders start has a similar feel to the first start of Texas A&M legend’s start, Johnny Manziel. That game for Manziel signified the beginning of the end for his career, as he went 10/18 for 80 yards and two interceptions. The hype was there for Manziel, the same way it is for Sanders right now. However, where they differ greatly is each of their maturity. Sanders has showcased it ever since joining the organization. Though, his maturity was the ongoing conversation headed into this year’s draft, as Sanders’ pre-draft process was looked at as horrific, and the cause of the immense slide he experienced. This concern has not yet proven to be a major issue, as the only controversial thing Sanders had done was the interview where he only mouthed words. Manziel, on the other hand, was already making headlines for partying before he was even at training camp with the team. Sanders has been showing aspects of the “adult in the room” archetype that the Browns have longed for since prior to Baker Mayfield.
All eyes and headlines will be on and about Shedeur Sanders after this Sunday, regardless of how outstanding or atrocious his performance is. Shedeur will control all of this with his start. If Sanders is able to lead Cleveland to their third win of the season, he will be able to compete with Gabriel for the starting position for the remainder of the season. If Sanders id able to captivate both the Browns organization and fans, how will if affect the Browns approach be heading into the 2026 draft? Do they still go after a quarterback to compete with Sanders, or will they target another offensive skill position to surround Sanders with? It’s the perfect time for Sanders to show all he’s got.
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