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Shedeur Sanders may have entered the NFL Draft with first-round expectations, but after falling to the fifth round, the rookie quarterback is showing that his focus is no longer on the past.
Since touching down in Ohio, Sanders has been all business, choosing to minimize distractions and throw himself into his new team's culture and expectations.
The quarterback from Colorado, who once projected as one of the top QB prospects in the class, watched as Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Dillon Gabriel were all selected before him.
It was only when the Browns used a fifth-round pick to take a chance on Sanders - after already drafting Gabriel - that his name was finally called. Now, in a loaded quarterback room featuring veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, Sanders knows he'll have to earn every rep.
"I haven't talked to him since the draft," Sanders said about Tom Brady, his longtime mentor. "I've mainly just been focusing on the team, everybody that's currently around me, the coaches on the team. I haven't really been on my phone much or talking to many people. I really don't even talk to my family. It's one of those situations where I just have to lock in, stay focused on what's present now."
Eembracing his underdog role
Despite entering Organized Team Activities (OTAs) as the fourth-string option, Sanders has adopted a tunnel-vision mindset. His dedication is already being recognized in Berea. Reports from within the Browns' facility indicate Sanders has been deeply immersed in the team's playbook - a sign that he isn't just hoping for an opportunity, he's preparing for one.
After missing out on his signature No. 2 jersey, Sanders opted to wear No. 12 - a subtle but significant nod to Brady. It's a symbol of aspiration, not just iration. Sanders understands the standard he'll be held to, especially in a room full of veteran experience and fresh talent.
Leadership is a trait Sanders never shied away from at Colorado, and his close friend and former teammate Travis Hunter expects him to bring that same presence to Cleveland.
"We definitely got to be leaders, especially me. I was the number two overall pick, so I gotta come in and be a leader," Hunter said. "Shedeur, he's gotta go in there and work, earn his job just like me. But he's also got to go in there and be the head of the offense, so he's gotta go in there and be a leader."