Shedeur Sanders‘ fall in the NFL Draft surprised just about everyone. He slid all the way to the 144th pick before the Cleveland Browns finally called his name on the last day. But instead of sulking, the Colorado kid is already dreaming big, showing some gratitude to his new team. “I’m trying to bring Cleveland a Super Bowl,” he said, full of fire. Still, he’s not stopping there.
Off the field, Shedeur Sanders is focused on lifting spirits, building hope, and connecting with the city’s youth. He added, “Off the field, I want to bring more hope and positivity to the city, and connecting with young people is one of the best ways to do that.” Hmm….That’s one way to win hearts fast in a new home. But let’s be real – the Super Bowl part? That’s a tall order. Even former NFLer Keyshawn Johnson thinks so.
During a new episode of the Speak, Johnson supported Sanders for everything – be it winning hearts or winning the QB1 role. However, when it comes to the SB win, he seems to walk back on his words. He said, “Yes, the Browns will look absolutely smart. I want to say it loud and clear. I’m back at Shedeur. I don’t need people telling me that I’m hating on Shedeur, because that’s not the case, but I’ll say it again. I don’t want him talking about the Super Bowl.”
.@Keyshawn: The Browns will end up looking absolutely smart for drafting Shedeur. pic.twitter.com/GpJ6EFgqVS
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) May 5, 2025
Instead, the ex-wide receiver wants him to focus “in on winning the starting quarterback job. I just wanted to say that loud and clear because over the weekend people, they came for me. It was like I’m hating on Deion’s son, and I’m doing this. I’m like, all I’ve been doing is supporting him from day one.” That might actually be fair, considering Keyshawn Johnson had Sanders’ back when critics came for him before the draft.
Some quarterback coaches reportedly called Sanders “brash” and “arrogant,” saying he lacked a “professional approach” during interviews. But Johnson wasn’t buying it. He stood up for the kid, saying, “You get these coaches that are not accustomed to dealing with, or having these conversations with individuals at this position that have a certain snap, crackle, pop to them. They don’t walk and talk like the quarterback position…..And he’s smiling and being himself. They’re not used to that. They want him to be something that he’s not.”
So yeah, Johnson’s clearly in his corner. But that Super Bowl talk? He’s not sold. Not yet. The Browns arguably aren’t exactly built for that kind of run right now, and Johnson seems to think Sanders should maybe cool it on that promise for now. Still, when it comes to QB1? Johnson, like plenty of others, believes Shedeur might be the guy. Though some reports hint another name could be in the mix.
Dillon Gabriel will defeat Shedeur Sanders?
The Browns have been chasing a quarterback dream since ’99, and let’s be honest – it’s been a painful ride. The Deshaun Watson trade? Yeah, that one stings the most. Gave up the world, paid a fortune, and it’s been nothing but chaos. But despite all that mess, somehow they pulled off an 11-6 season last year, riding mostly on that fierce defense. Fast forward to now, the QB room still feels messy.
Joe Flacco is back, Kenny Pickett is fighting for a second chance, and then comes the two rookies – Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Sanders got all the media buzz after slipping from a supposed top pick to the fifth round. But listen to the way Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry talked Gabriel as their guy.
During an interview, the head coach said, “We really felt strongly about Dillon throughout this process. You know, I think he’s a really strong, really, really good prospect. You know, that’s not to say that we didn’t meet with other quarterbacks that we thought were really talented players and good people. But we felt strongly about Dillon. We think he’s an excellent player and felt like he was the most appropriate player to pick for both.”
No doubt, the young QB, Gabriel, fits the team’s offense; he moves well, and he’s got that poise they love. Even Flacco had to roll out last year, so movement matters here. But for Sanders? Well, he’s talented, no doubt, but he ran for his life in college because that O-line gave him nothing. He didn’t move with purpose, he moved to survive. But the Browns praised Gabriel with details. And it’s not that Sanders can’t shine, but right now, the other QB just feels like the better fit. In Cleveland, fit matters more than flash!
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