The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback battle is heating up, but it’s what’s happening off the field that’s raising eyebrows. In June, Shedeur Sanders stood silently after a padded drill, offering calm body language but little visibility in team reps. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about the rookie’s development. His answer? Cold and clinical: “He’s working… we want all our guys to keep stacking good days.”
That lukewarm tone didn’t match Shedeur Sanders’ college résumé. Once a projected top-10 draft pick, he now sits fourth on Cleveland’s depth chart. Meanwhile, fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel has been handed a far more open runway, taking more reps and working deeper into the playbook.
According to 92.3 The Fan, this discrepancy isn’t accidental. Host Nick Wilson explained: “They’ve allowed Dillon to take more reps, get more opportunities. They are still very much hand-holding with Shedeur.” Co-host Jonathan Peterlin agreed, saying Sanders seems content to play the long game: “If I do my part, it’ll take care of itself.”
But it’s hard to ignore the gap in treatment. Gabriel, a third-rounder, is already appearing in 11-on-11 drills. Sanders, despite his NFL bloodline and time under Coach Prime at Colorado, is stuck on the slow path. Sources say film study and playbook installs clearly favor Gabriel. This isn’t just about reps, but a broader narrative.
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That narrative only got messier when Browns owner Jimmy Haslam tried to distance himself from the Sanders pick. “If you’d have told me Friday night we were taking Shedeur, I’d have said, ‘That’s not happening,’” Haslam said. “But… that’s Andrew Berry’s call.”
The comment backfired. Haslam’s presence in the war room when Sanders was drafted still lingers, casting doubt on who really pulled the trigger.
The Browns’ QB room is loaded with Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders, Kenny Pickett, and Joe Flacco all vying for a spot. But Stefanski’s conservative approach may be suffocating the most intriguing name on that list. Sanders is a fifth-round pick with first-round talent. Yet so far, he’s being treated more like a project than a potential franchise cornerstone.
And while Deshaun Watson’s albatross contract continues to limit the team’s flexibility, there’s no clear QB1 in sight. Sanders may be the long-term answer—but he needs the reps to prove it.
Meanwhile, off-field chaos continues. First-round pick Quinshon Judkins was arrested and still hasn’t signed with the team. Haslam called it “extremely frustrating” and admitted to communication failures. It’s added more fire to a smoldering rookie class already under scrutiny.
For Shedeur Sanders, the setback isn’t about effort. He’s quiet, focused, and working hard. But talent alone isn’t enough when opportunity is throttled.
If Stefanski continues to shelter Sanders from real evaluation, the Browns may miss out on developing the quarterback who could actually change their future.
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