Shedeur Sanders Struggles Mightily in Debut

Coming into this past NFL Draft, many experts and fans alike viewed former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of legendary NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, as one of the consensus best passers available. Expectations were high, with most analysts predicting he would be one of the first two quarterbacks selected, likely going either first overall or shortly thereafter alongside Cam Ward. However, the draft did not play out as anticipated for Sanders. In a surprising twist, he slipped all the way to the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns finally selected him.

Sanders made his much-anticipated NFL debut in the second half of Sunday’s closely contested 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Reflecting on his performance, the rookie was candid and self-critical. “I don’t think I played well,” Sanders told ESPN. “I don’t think I played well at all. I think there are a lot of things we need to look at during the week and go and just get comfortable with.” Sanders’ self-awareness of the situation is something that should be viewed as a positive, albeit there is little to no defending the performance, as it was not pretty.

The circumstances that led to Sanders’s debut came after fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel was forced to exit the game at halftime due to a concussion, with Gabriel officially ruled out in the third quarter. Taking over the reins mid-game, Sanders struggled to find his rhythm amidst the heightened intensity and pace of NFL play. He completed just 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and threw an interception, resulting in a passer rating of 13.5. His completion rate of 25.0 percent was historically low, tied with Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw for the third-lowest completion percentage by any quarterback making their NFL debut since 1970.

On the bright side, these 28 snaps of play represented Sanders’s first meaningful live-action experience since playing 17 snaps in the second half of the Browns’ preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams. During that game, he went 3-of-6 passing for 14 yards but was also sacked five times while facing a Rams unit largely composed of backup and training camp players. The contrast between preseason and regular-season intensity proved stark, highlighting the learning curve Sanders must navigate as he develops his skills at the highest level of football. Despite the rocky start, many remain optimistic about Sanders’s potential to grow into a capable and confident NFL quarterback as he gains more experience and comfort within the Browns’ offense. Truly, it’s going to be something to heavily monitor with the health of Dillon Gabriel largely up in the air for next week. If he is not ready to go, however, Sanders will have to be ready to step in and go to work.