- NFL. Deshaun Watson delivers a message to Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel: He's not retiring, he's here to compete
- NFL. Shilo Sanders expresses his feelings about living in Tampa Bay after g with the Buccaneers: "I'm not going to lie..."
A month after the NFL Draft, there's no doubt that Shedeur Sanders is the most talked-about player. Sanders, the 144th pick, has garnered more attention and buzz than any other fifth-round player in NFL history. Not even the first-overall pick, Cam Ward; the second-overall pick, Travis Hunter, Sanders' former teammate at Colorado; or first-round picks from the Giants' Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart have captured as much attention in their first month as professionals. Much of this attention is due to Sanders being the son of Deion Sanders, a Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champion who is a magnet for attention. His sons are now under the spotlight as well; Shilo Sanders has already signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Shedeur Sanders: The Most Talked-About Rookie
The Cleveland Browns will begin their Organized Team Activities (OTAs) today, as will most NFL teams. According to Shedeur himself, he's ready. In a recent interview with SportsCasting, he mentioned that he has spoken little with his father and family and that he only spoke with Tom Brady on draft day. These were his words: "I haven't talked to him (Brady) since the draft," Sanders said."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."
Good for Sanders, though I'm sure he regularly talks with his dad for advice. Who better to you at the start and throughout your career than your dad, Deion Sanders? Earlier, he mentioned that he looks out for his brother, Shilo, who seems to have it a bit "easier" in of getting playing time next season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense.
I say "easier" because there is more rotation among defensive players than among quarterbacks, who almost never rotate. Coach Kevin Stefanski has said he loves the work Sanders has done with the team in these first few weeks. Stefanski revealed that Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel, the rookie selected before Shedeur, will be the Browns' No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks when OTAs begin. This doesn't mean that Shedeur no longer has a chance. On the contrary, these first 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills will help the Browns get a better idea of how the rookies, Pickett and Joe Flacco look. Flacco knows he won't be the starter, but with 17 seasons under his belt, he acts as an extra coach on the team.
Browns' Quarterback Competition Heats Up at OTAs
In my opinion, Pickett will most likely start in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. His experience gives him an edge; he was a starter for two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and a backup with the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles last year, starting one game-a 41-7 rout of Dallas in Week 16. However, I wouldn't trust him for a full season. This is where the challenge lies for the Browns' four quarterbacks. Since 1999, only two Browns quarterbacks, Tim Couch and Baker Mayfield, have completed a full season. This suggests that there will likely be quarterback changes as the season progresses.
The Browns have a particularly challenging first month: they'll face Joe Burrow's Bengals at home, travel to face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, host the young Green Bay Packers, and finally visit Detroit. These matchups increase the likelihood that the Browns will have cycled through two quarterbacks by Week 5, adding urgency to Sanders's and Gabriel's OTAs. It's undoubtedly not an ideal situation for fans to not know who will start the season, but at least the competition indicates that the most prepared player will take the field.