The NFL got its first look at Cleveland Browns’ rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders on Friday night. In the team’s preseason opener on the road against the Carolina Panthers, Sanders received the start due to injuries being nursed by Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel.
Not only did Sanders get the start, but he also put on a show.
He completed 14 of his 23 pass attempts for 138 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. In addition, he ran the ball four times for 19 yards.
Seeing Sanders take control of his NFL debut was an impressive sight to watch. Following his performance, there are a lot more people taking notice of him and giving him a chance to become a starter during his rookie season.
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That being said, a former NFL quarterback spoke out with some blunt honesty about Sanders.
Kurt Benkert, who spent time with the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers, spoke out with his thoughts about Sanders. He shared his thoughts in a social media post on X.
“If Shedeur was a top 30 draft pick we’d hear rumblings about him as the clear QB1 for the Browns today but because he ended up a 5th round pick he only helped his chances of making the team,” Benkert wrote. “The league man.”
He’s 100 percent correct with his statement. Sanders putting together the performance he did should be bringing up potential starter conversations. There are some of those conversations happening, but not nearly as many as there would be if he had been a first round selection.
Throughout the entire pre-draft process, Sanders was expected to be a first-round pick. It was thought possible that he could slip into the early stages of the second.
Not being picked until the fifth round was one of the most shocking draft slides in NFL history. Sanders is now simply using that as motivation and focusing on doing everything in his power to work his way onto the field.
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It will be interesting to see what the rest of the preseason has in store. Sanders should see plenty more playing time.
Should he be able to keep playing at the high level he showed against the Panthers, Sanders could start forcing his way into the starting conversation.
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