Despite an unexpected drop to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has landed in Cleveland with bold intentions.
Known for sparking turnarounds at Jackson State and Colorado alongside his father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, he now looks to energize a franchise with 40 starting quarterbacks since 1999 and remains without a Super Bowl appearance. His determination and past success suggest he’s ready to change that.
Shedeur Sanders Shows Renewed Swagger, Sets Sights on Browns’ QB Job
Shedeur Sanders has arrived in Cleveland with a bold mindset and a mission to shift the trajectory of a long-struggling franchise. The franchise’s rocky history doesn’t deter Sanders. In fact, he feels at home in Cleveland.
Shedeur Sanders message to the Browns fans:
“I’m here to change that—I’m here to give what they want”😁 pic.twitter.com/vk8WfKJK6T
— GUCCE🦬🐦⬛ (@gucceCU) May 12, 2025
“It’s been extremely well, I would say,” Sanders shared on Cleveland Browns Daily when asked about his early experience with the fan base. “Really, I feel like the Browns fans, they just want something to hope for. They’ve been wanting that for so long. I’m here to change that, I’m here to actually give what they want.”
Despite being selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft—after five quarterbacks had already come off the board, including Dillon Gabriel to the Browns in the third—Sanders isn’t focused on where he was picked.
“I was a late-round draft pick, but we’re here now. None of that stuff matters,” he said. “I’m just excited to be here and ready to work.”
Cleveland, one of just four NFL teams that has never reached a Super Bowl, has seen limited success in recent years. The Browns endured a 0-16 campaign in 2017 and have posted just four winning seasons since their 1999 return to the league.
A carousel of 40 different starting quarterbacks over that span—seven of whom started games in just the past two years—has only deepened the instability at the position. His ambition, however, begins with establishing credibility inside the building.
“Of course, establish myself first in the locker room, first around the building,” he said. “Have everyone understand me. Just create great dialogue between everybody, just be a good teammate, honestly.”
Sanders made it clear at rookie minicamp that he’s not chasing doubters—he’s focused on internal validation.
KEEP READING: ‘I’m Just Thankful for an Opportunity’—Shedeur Sanders Embraces Browns QB Battle With Confidence
“My job here isn’t to prove people wrong,” he said. “I prove myself right. I fully have self-belief.”
Cleveland’s uncertain quarterback room presents an opening for Sanders to contend for the starting role early. Still, he views the competition through a personal lens.
“I just feel like, in life, in everything, it’s just me versus me,” he said. “I can’t control any other decision besides that. I just try to be my best self at all times.”
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