Shedeur Sanders continues to answer the tough questions. The 23-year-old quarterback started off his NFL career under a cloud of judgement. The first round projected pick fell to the 144th overall pick in a stunning free fall.
Now Sanders is being asked to address an issue at practice.
“Things Will Happen” Shedeur Sanders Addresses Huge Issue At Practice, Media Blown Away
Compared to Shedeur Sanders’ collegiate and high school careers, his professional career is a stark contrast. As an unquestioned starter during those developmental stages, Sanders had little to prove to earn the job. Cleveland is different:
His young journey through the NFL has cast him down from that pedestal thus far. Sanders was essentially an afterthought selection on Day 3 of the draft and joined a crowded Cleveland Browns quarterback room where his roster spot is no guarantee.
As such, Sanders has gotten most of his work in with the backups and reserves. However, he plans to capitalize on whatever reps he gets from now through the remainder of the offseason.
Rather than sulking and accepting the lot of his new professional life, Sanders is embracing the challenge head-on. That does not mean he’s gunning for a miracle run at the No. 1 spot, instead he’s embracing the entire process and taking the time to develop.
“My goal is to be the best teammate and to be as polished as I can be in every aspect,” Sanders told reporters this week. “I view things as I got time. I got time to be able to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of the defenses and be able to get the good insight from the vets in the room.”
Joe Flacco will assume QB1 duties with Deshaun Watson sidelined with injury. In the meantime, Sanders wants to learn from the veterans and prepare for his time.
“So, I look at it as a plus. I got time to actually be able to really have a great understanding and whenever it’s time for me to play, then it’s time for me to play. But I’m not looking too far in the future about all that. I’m looking [at] every day in practice. … I’m focused on the small things and over time the big things will happen.”
Several notable quarterbacks have seen their journeys start in a similar position. Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes come to mind when thinking of heralded prospects who had to wait their turn and benefitted.
The calamity with the Browns’ quarterback room does not provide much of an answer now as to what role he will progress toward in the years to come. Regardless, Sanders has said and done the right things to earn the trust of his teammates and coaches, hoping progress up the rungs on the ladder.
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