Browns Rookie Shedeur Sanders Must Overcome 'Mailed It In' Reputation
The Cleveland Browns QB conundrum will work itself out, as these things always do.
As the Browns are entering training camp in July with four quarterbacks (not counting the wounded Deshaun Watson) battling for the starting job in Week 1, it is simply too early for management or the coaching staff to have privately committed to one (or two) over the others.
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But it is never too early for one of those candidates, controversial rookie Shedeur Sanders, to take to heart the criticism that is the reason behind his dramatic slide from a possible first-round pick in the April NFL Draft to a lowly fifth-round selection.
The criticism might be unfair; his famous father, the legendary Deion Sanders, certainly thinks so.
But the criticism is still the reason ... and it can be a wake-up call for Shedeur to understand how he is perceived.
In the exclusive Browns examination in the Athlon Sports 2025 NFL Preview magazine, which is available online and at newsstands now, one NFL scout tells us that while Sanders has the ability to eventually become the Browns' starter. ...
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His pre-Draft presentation was bothersome to NFL teams,
'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.'
The scout adds that 'Joe Flacco is their best bet to be competitive ... He still throws a good ball.'
Can we envision Shedeur ending up out of the mix? Of course, we can... just like with any other fifth-round rookie who might best be suited for the practice squad. The Browns took Dillon Gabriel in Round 3, meaning they liked him above Sanders. And they acquired former first-round pick Kenny Pickett, who on paper might be the best answer of all.
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For now, for Sanders? He needs not just to put behind him "polarizing'' and "attitude'' and "mailed it in'' concerns.
He needs to listen to them. He needs to learn from them.
The exclusive Browns scouting report in the Athlon Sports 2025 NFL Preview magazine is available online and at newsstands now.
Related: Browns Critic Demands Controversial Shedeur Be Kept Off 'Our Streets'
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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