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Shedeur Sanders has all the tools to be a legit NFL quarterback prospect, but there’s one glaring issue in his game that could derail everything. It’s not his famous father or the confidence that some critics mistake for arrogance. The real problem? Sanders holds onto the football way too long – a habit that followed him from Jackson State to Colorado.
The Browns are giving Sanders the starting nod for Friday night’s preseason opener against the Panthers, and Cleveland’s brain trust – GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski – should be praying this college tendency doesn’t follow him to the pros. The NFL is a different animal altogether. The game moves at warp speed compared to college, and hesitation can literally put you on a stretcher. Sanders has to process information faster if he wants to survive.
We don’t know yet how many Carolina defensive starters will actually suit up against Cleveland. But honestly, defense isn’t exactly the Panthers’ strong suit heading into this season.
They’ve got some pieces, sure.
The Real Test For Sanders Begins Now
Carolina’s best path forward clearly involves Bryce Young distributing the ball to his various weapons – not relying on their defense to win games. So if Sanders struggles with quick decision-making against what’s essentially a suspect defensive unit? That’s a major red flag for his NFL future.
I’m pulling for Sanders to not just make Cleveland’s 53-man roster but eventually take the reins from the seemingly ageless Joe Flacco. With both Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett sidelined with injuries for this preseason opener, all eyes will be on Sanders before Tyler Huntley inevitably comes in and starts scrambling all over the field (as we all know he will).
College football is predominantly read-and-react, but the NFL demands timing, precision, and accurate ball placement. Sanders does throw a catchable ball, and he’s got enough mobility behind the line to potentially become this generation’s version of Geno Smith – and I mean that as a compliment. But there’s simply no place in the league for a quarterback who constantly pats the ball…
This troublesome habit will ultimately determine whether Sanders has any shot at becoming an NFL starter. Despite my belief that he deserved starting consideration coming out of college, he fell all the way to the fifth round. Even more telling? The Browns actually preferred Gabriel over Sanders in this past draft. While I personally rate Sanders higher than Gabriel, both rookies have plenty to prove.
Sanders has been turning heads in training camp, but he needs to be absolutely spectacular when the lights come on during preseason.
