In a moment brimming with ambition, Shedeur Sanders made a striking declaration at the Cleveland Browns’ rookie minicamp this past Saturday.
When the conversation turned to Tom Brady—drafted as the 199th pick in 2000 and a guiding light for Sanders—this rookie expressed unwavering belief in his potential to surpass expectations, much like the football legend who dominated the NFL for an astonishing 23 years.
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“My journey is going to mirror his,” Sanders shared confidently. “Sure, I was a late-round draft choice, but that’s old news now. What matters is that I’m here, ready to put in the work.”
After a somewhat surprising drop to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Browns picked up the former Colorado quarterback at 144th overall.
Brady’s own journey began deep in the quarterback hierarchy with the Patriots, yet he went on to etch a legendary legacy featuring seven Super Bowl victories and five Super Bowl MVP awards, vastly outshining those initial doubts.
Paralleling Brady’s experience, Sanders finds himself in a tight competition for the Cleveland quarterback position this season. The Browns also drafted quarterback Dillon Gabriel at 94th overall and boast several seasoned names like Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Deshaun Watson on their roster.
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On Friday, Sanders took to the field for the first time with the Browns, participating in drills and smaller team games at their Berea, Ohio facility. In the midst of the action, he demonstrated his skill set, throwing over defenders and landing two touchdowns during 7-on-7 scrimmages.
While he had to share the spotlight with Gabriel that day, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski hinted that the order could shift as the weekend progressed.
“Don’t read too much into the first day,” Stefanski mentioned. “You’ll see the full spectrum of talent as we go through the weekend and into spring. We keep an open mind about who takes the first reps.”
In a report by Browns insider Brad Stainbrook, Sanders displayed a sharper performance than Dillon Gabriel during Friday’s activities.
The addition of these two quarterbacks offers the Browns fresh avenues as they endeavor to return to the playoffs for a second time in three years, following a challenging 2024 season that concluded with a 3-14 record.
