The Cleveland Browns have had a quarterback dilemma since the beginning of the 2025-26 NFL season. While veteran Joe Flacco was taking care of the responsibilities, they had a QB2 struggle between two rookies, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, who both eyed the spot. When Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, Gabriel got his big break as QB1.
Since then, whenever he has not performed up to the mark, fans and insiders make calls to give Sanders a chance. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski has not made the change. It raises a question: Is Stefanski biased towards Gabriel, or is the reason associated with Sanders? While many Sanders fans believe it is the former reason, the truth lies in the latter.
The Unforgettable On-Field Altercation
During his college football days, the nation was fixated on NFL legend Deion Sanders’ son, Shedeur. In 2024, analysts predicted he would be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. While everything seemed to sail smoothly, one on-field mistake changed some impressions about his credibility.
It was November 23, 2024. The Colorado Buffaloes were facing the Kansas Jayhawks, and something went wrong. It was the third quarter with 5:55 left on the clock, and the Buffaloes were trailing. Three Kansas players, Dean Miller, Cornell Wheeler, and Kenean Caldwell, tackle Sanders down, almost crumbling him to the ground. And this led to an on-field altercation.
The rules state that only referees break the players off with their hands. But Sanders, still recovering from the rage, pushed referee Kevin Mar. It was a “one-handed shove” that could have gotten him ejected from the game, but he remained in the game.
This showcased one of two things: He just got lucky, or it was the “Coach Prime” influence. Whatever it may be, high-chair executives in NFL teams could never take this sportively. This incident played a major role in tanking Sanders’ draft stock.
Gabriel Getting Picked Ahead of Sanders
All analysts were shocked when the first round of the draft ended and Sanders was not picked. Despite having the all-time FBS record with a 71.8% career completion rate and the offensive player of the year award, every team passed on Sanders in the draft. However, he took it very sportingly.
“We all didn’t expect this, of course, but I feel like with God, anything’s possible, everything’s possible,” Sanders said. “We’re on to bigger and better things. Tomorrow’s the day. We’re going to be happy regardless.”
The bigger shock came on April 25, 2025, when the Browns picked Gabriel with the 94th overall pick, ahead of Sanders. Then, the next day, Cleveland traded up in the draft to pick the former Colorado star with the 144th overall pick.
The Browns sent their 166th and 192nd overall picks to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the pick they used to select Sanders. Since Gabriel was picked before Sanders, the former will always get more chances than the latter, and so far, the Browns have shown more faith in the Oregon product.
The Post-Draft Off-Field Misdemeanors
Two speeding charges worsened the situation as the football world was divided on whether picking Sanders was right. According to a Medina [Ohio] Municipal Court record filed on June 6, the Ohio State Patrol pulled him over on June 5 for driving 91 mph in a 65 mph zone in Brunswick Hills, Ohio. FOX8 reported on the incident, not knowing they would have to do the same a few days later.
Strongsville police records reflect Sanders being stopped by an officer on I-71 North around 12:24 a.m. on June 17 for going 101 mph in a 60mph zone in a black Dodge TRX truck, 41 miles over the speed limit. He skipped the court date on June 19. This showcased recklessness in action, and the Browns spokesman, Peter John-Baptiste, covered it, saying, “He is taking care of the tickets.”
These two incidents didn’t help Sanders’ chances to climb up the Browns’ depth chart, and his NFL career began in the worst possible manner. Then came what many fans still awaited: To see Sanders shine in the preseason.
Has Sanders Really Never Got A Chance To Prove Himself?
There is an unsaid rule in NFL teams. If a rookie performs exceptionally in the preseason, they quickly secure a spot on the 53-man roster. And Sanders got his shot. His debut against the Carolina Panthers in the first preseason became the talk of the town.
Sanders went 14 of 23 with 138 passing yards and two touchdowns. He took only two sacks and had four carries for 19 yards. This flamboyant performance put him up there for the QB1 discussions. Even LeBron James posted on X to show his support.
The second preseason game was Gabriel’s moment to shine. Even though he recorded no touchdowns, the third-round pick went 13 of 18 with 143 passing yards and one interception against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Both players played in the final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. Gabriel, the starting quarterback, went 12 of 19 for 129 yards and a touchdown. Sanders was the QB3 against the Rams, and he did not play well.
Sanders was sacked 5 times, and he just threw the ball six times. While Cleveland’s backup offensive line was to blame, the rookie could not be let off the hook. He held the ball for a long time and could not evade the pressure, and the Browns chose consistency over flamboyancy.
To start the season, Sanders was the QB4 in Cleveland. However, things have now started to look great for him as the departures of Flacco and Kenny Pickett have elevated him to become the team’s QB2.
Reading Between the Lines of Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam’s Words
Talking to the Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam expressed his thoughts about Sanders. “Listen, he’s a serious football player, and inside the building, there’s no noise,” Haslam said. “He comes to work every day just like everybody else, and he’s trying to get better as a football player.”
Is this a way to say Sanders is training hard to get out at the right time and dominate the field? It looks like the Browns are brewing something, and nobody really knows about it. As many predict, there could be a trade. But going by Haslam’s words, it seems the team is training him as a secret weapon for future games. Maybe they are incorporating him into the Browns’ offensive playstyle to make him better suited for the role.
Heading into Week 8, the Browns have the second-worst offense in the league based on PFSN’s Offense Impact metric. Gabriel is ranked 34th among quarterbacks based on PFSN’s QB Impact metric, and a change in Cleveland is inevitable.
If you are thinking, ‘What makes you think so?’ I have answers. A player with unknown skills can better fool the opponent than a well-known player. One bad preseason game does not define a player’s career, and Sanders is expected to get his opportunity later in the season. However, till then, he has to work behind Gabriel and be a good teammate.
Tom Brady started off with more hunger than skills, and now every athlete looks up to him as an example of the pinnacle of quarterback success. All it took was hard work, discipline, and determination to turn things around. If Sanders is learning to channelize his flamboyance into something greater behind closed walls, fans will soon see him outperform other quarterbacks.
The NFL world is waiting to see him make his official debut in the regular season. Will he live up to Coach Prime’s aura or surpass it? Only time will tell.