A former NFL scout says Shedeur Sanders isn’t elite and points to six major outlets still mocking Arch Manning to the Browns.
Scout Reveals Media Push for Arch Manning While Questioning Shedeur Sanders’ Ceiling
Former New York Jets scout Daniel Kelly is a known Sanders detractor. Having seen the now-former Colorado passer be drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Kelly is still doubting Deion’s quarterback son.
Kelly listed NBC Sports, FOX Sports, Pro Football Focus, Pro Football Network, Bleacher Report, and Cleveland.com as platforms that “must not believe in Shedeur Sanders” based on early projections for next year’s draft. Sanders will compete for the Cleveland Browns’ starting job alongside fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel and veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco.
Kelly believes it might not matter even if Sanders beats out the rest of those signal-callers. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry could be excited about Texas Longhorns quarterback Manning, who could turn pro after this season.
“All six are mocking Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning to the Cleveland Browns with the No. 1 or No. 2 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft,” Kelly wrote Thursday in a post on X. “All 6 of these platforms also did this right after the Browns selected Sanders.”
NBC Sports’ Eric Froton had the Cleveland Browns adding Manning with the No. 2 overall pick of next year’s draft. Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor went No. 1 to the New York Giants, who traded up to draft now-former Ole Miss passer Jaxson Dart in the first round this year.
“The Browns traded back in 2025 with this moment in mind, as they now have the extra draft capital to move up for their preferred QB, if needed,” Froton wrote Wednesday. “With Manning falling in this scenario, Cleveland secures a rare high-end signal-caller with an iconic family legacy to build the franchise around.”
KEEP READING: CFB Analyst Joel Klatt Released His Initial 2026 NFL Draft Big Board, and Arch Manning Isn’t No. 1
However, it isn’t guaranteed that Manning will leave Steve Sarkisian and Texas. On3’s J.D. PicKell believes Manning will choose to remain patient, as he’s been since he committed to the Longhorns, and stick around another season.
“It doesn’t make any sense with how the Mannings have moved this entire time,” PicKell said Thursday. “They have been consistently a ‘delayed gratification’ kind of camp. Arch picks Texas, knowing he’s not gonna start as a true freshman. Could’ve gone a lot of places and played right away. He says, ‘No, I wanna go somewhere I can sit, develop, get better, be ready for the NFL.'”
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