Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was the biggest winner of the Joe Flacco trade to the Cincinnati Bengals this week. Although 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel has moved into the starting role, the former Colorado star may also get his chance to shine in 2025.
Selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders has been one of the biggest rookie storylines so far because of his slide in the draft. Humbled, yet motivated to prove doubters wrong, Sanders has embraced his role with the Browns and is patiently waiting his opportunity, an opportunity his father and former Colorado coach said will come.
Speaking during an appearance on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce. The elder Sanders predicted that his son will get a shot.
“Be patient and be ready,” Sanders said, as transcribed by ESPN. “You got to be ready when it’s time. But when it’s time, you’re going to know. And it’s coming up. I got a prediction. I ain’t telling nobody. I got a feeling when it’s going to go down. But it’s going to go down this year. …He’s going to get a shot.”
That prediction is close to becoming a reality with the Flacco trade as it could propel Sanders from third string to the backup quarterback. What that means is any given week, any moment in a football game, he can get that shot.
Shedeur Sanders vs Bailey Zappe
But, then again, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has not committed to elevating Sanders to second-string. Following the Flacco trade, the team elevated veteran QB Bailey Zappe from the practice squad. Now, there is competition for that backup role as Stefanski will have to decide between a player in Zappe who has experience as a starter or a rookie in Sanders who will drive headlines if he does get his shot.
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While elevating Sanders to a backup QB role is not set in stone, it seems the franchise and Stefanski may be leaning that way or at least need to see what they have in the players they are developing.
"I always have to be mindful of our players and our players' development," Stefanski said Wednesday. "I want to make sure I'm always doing what's best for our player, and of course our team. ... Like last week, with the change to Dillon, you've got to think long and hard about that because these are young players that you're so invested in their development."
With the success Gabriel had in his first NFL start, the backup quarterback may not matter if he puts together a string of impressive games that leads to the Browns winning game. But, at the same time, Gabriel’s performance did prove the rookie quarterbacks can be successful leading the Browns’ offense. So, if Gabriel struggles or suffers an injury. The next man up should be Shedeur Sanders.
2026 NFL Draft: Browns need to know what they have in Gabriel and Sanders
Another reason Sanders will get his shot in 2025 is that the Browns need to know what they have at the quarterback position. With two first round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Browns will be in position to select one of the top quarterback prospects entering the draft. If either Gabriel or Sanders proves the rest of the season that either of them can be that guy, the Browns can go in another direction to improve the roster.
That doesn’t mean they won’t still take a quarterback in the draft at some point, but if one of their 2025 NFL draft picks stand out at the QB position, they can use their top picks on other areas of need like wide receiver and the offensive line.
So, to sum it up, Shedeur Sanders will start this season for the Browns. The question is whether he can take advantage of that opportunity and get a little NFL Draft revenge and redemption.