The Shedeur Sanders experiment is officially underway in Cleveland, and after one week as the starting quarterback for the Browns, it’s been successful.
Sanders gained the job after an injury forced their QB1, Dillon Gabriel, out of action for at least last week. And when the Browns’ rookie was called upon, he performed admirably in his first complete game, going 11-for-20 with 209 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception, but that was one flaw among a decent performance, which also resulted in a Browns win, 24-10.
Following the victory, head coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear that Sanders is now the team’s starting quarterback. However, popular Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd cautioned about a significant issue the Browns face in using Sanders as their quarterback for the rest of the season.
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During “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” the Fox Sports analyst played Sanders’ interview remarks in which he said, “a lot of people wanted to see me fail and it ain’t gonna happen.” Cowherd said he disagrees with his comments that many people want to see him fail, and there’s no reason to root against him.
“I think he’s a likable kid who needs to grow up a bit. I wish he played with a little more urgency. Everything feels casual,” he noted about Sanders.
“But it was a good time yesterday. Not all relationships have to be marriages. Holiday flings are ok,” Cowherd said regarding watching the Browns with Sanders.
He then cautioned that there is a major issue the Browns will have if they continue to use Sanders, who clearly looks like a capable quarterback and wants to prove himself.
“Their only problem with Shedeur- he’s gonna win some of these games down the stretch. They might not get to the [Fernando] Mendoza pick,” Cowherd said.
The Browns (3-8) currently hold two first-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, which could help them land their real quarterback of the future. Cowherd said Dante Moore could choose to stay another year at Oregon, leaving “only one or two first-round quarterbacks” to choose.
The Browns still have six games remaining on the schedule, with several winnable ones. Even with opponents like the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, and Pittsburgh Steelers, Sanders could go off, resulting in a surprising win for the fifth-round pick.
He’ll face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, a team that looks playoff-bound at this point. However, one never knows with Sanders, who is clearly looking to prove he’s worth more than being a late pick in this past NFL Draft.
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