Following his stunning fifth-round choice, coupled with three extra quarterback additions this offseason, Shedeur Sanders could be the odd man out on the Cleveland Browns‘ depth chart. His lack of first-team reps within the opening days of coaching camp signifies that he faces an uphill battle to make the roster. Sanders dismissed the strain, although, and stated he’s as much as the problem because the quarterback competitors heats up.
Battling with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, returning veteran Joe Flacco and offseason newcomer Kenny Pickett, Sanders could be as little as fourth within the pecking order simply over a month out from the season opener.
“Each time I get my alternative, I gotta maximize it,” Sanders said on Friday. “I simply gotta take into consideration what I might do to get higher even when I am not getting reps. It is no downside.”
Draft projections extensively seen Sanders as a possible franchise quarterback more likely to fly off the board within the first spherical. As an alternative of turning into the second signal-caller taken, behind No. 1 total decide Cam Ward, he waited till the fifth spherical and heard a plethora of unusual names referred to as earlier than his personal.
The adversity retains on coming for Sanders as he cedes reps to the opposite quarterbacks in follow. As for why the opposite contenders seemingly have a leg up on him within the race for the beginning job, he stated it is “not my place” to reply that query.
“I really feel prefer it’s not in my management,” stated Sanders. “So I am not even going to consider that or have that even in my thought technique of why it’s. It is lots of people that wish to have the chance to be at this stage, and I am right here, and I am grateful to have the chance. Each time that’s, it’s. But it surely does not make me really feel down or it does not make me really feel disregarded or something, as a result of I do know who I’m as an individual, I do know who I’m as a person and I do know what I might deliver to this staff.”
What Sanders presents to the Browns is an extended observe document as a extremely productive starter and a battle-tested quarterback who thrived regardless of taking part in behind leaky offensive strains at Colorado. He was one of many prime passers on the FCS stage throughout his Jackson State stint and contended for nationwide passing titles on the NCAA’s highest subdivision when he moved as much as the ability=convention echelon.
Within the months since his Colorado exit, Sanders stated he has turn into extra snug together with his position as a quarterback competitors member. It’s a stark distinction to his assured position as a starter in his 4 faculty seasons.
“You do not even know what reps you are going to get, so that you gotta be prepared for all the things,” Sanders stated. “That is how it’s in video games, additionally. So jot down the performs, perceive conceptually what it’s. I’d say from rookie minicamp and OTAs to now, I discovered extra in-depth with all the things.”