Shedeur Sanders’ NFL journey is off to a rocky start, and one former NFL scout isn’t mincing words about why the Cleveland Browns may be the worst possible landing spot for him. Using what he calls “easy math,” the ex-Jets scout laid out a damning case on X (formerly Twitter), combining Sanders’ tendencies with Cleveland’s glaring weaknesses.
Former NFL Scout Reveals Why Shedeur Sanders Is a Terrible Fit in Cleveland
“The math everyone needs to know about Sanders and his ‘chances’ with the Browns,” the scout wrote. And it’s brutal.
Sanders was the most sacked quarterback in college football over the past two seasons, dropping 94 times against what many consider mild competition. That’s a staggering total, especially for a player once viewed as a top-three draft pick. His 3.00-second average time to throw last season, per Pro Football Focus, reflects a tendency to hold the ball too long, something that doesn’t bode well for success behind a shaky offensive line.
The math everyone needs to know about Shedeur Sanders and his “chances” with the Browns.
Sanders was the most sacked QB in the FBS the last two seasons (94) vs. mild college schedules
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Sanders had a 3.00 second time to throw last season per PFF (to put that into further… pic.twitter.com/yjp2ceAcWj
— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) May 7, 2025
Compare that with Browns quarterbacks in 2024. According to Next Gen Stats, Jameis Winston averaged 2.79 seconds per throw, and Deshaun Watson clocked in at 2.94 seconds. Yet even with those quicker releases, the Browns’ offensive line still allowed 66 sacks, the second most in the NFL. To make matters worse, the team did little to address its protection issues this offseason.
A quarterback who holds the ball too long + one of the NFL’s worst pass-blocking units = a recipe for disaster.
Then factor in the brutal AFC North. Sanders will have to face defenses like the Steelers and Ravens, known for relentless pressure, twice a year, along with Cleveland’s harsh late-season weather conditions. The scout’s conclusion? “Sanders has less than no chance in Cleveland.”
Despite being a fifth-round pick (No. 144 overall), Sanders has drawn significant attention. His arrival in the NFL has been highly publicized, with fans purchasing his Browns jersey in droves. But buzz aside, analysts like Robert Griffin III believe the situation in Cleveland is “set up for dysfunction,” especially with a quarterback room that includes Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel, and injured starter Deshaun Watson, who could miss the season.
KEEP READING: Robert Griffin III Blasts Browns for Dysfunctional QB Setup With Shedeur Sanders Buried at QB4
Sanders’ drop in the draft from early first-round projections to the fifth round was one of the biggest storylines of 2025. Some reports cite concerns about attitude and professionalism during pre-draft interviews. The New York Jets, for instance, passed on Sanders entirely, reportedly questioning his fit in the no-nonsense culture built by new head coach Aaron Glenn.
While the Jets’ QB room remains thin after Jordan Travis’ recent retirement, they opted not to take a chance on Sanders. That might say more than anything else.
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