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After being selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders ed the Cleveland Browns with a simple approach: keep his head down and improve daily.
The former Colorado Buffaloes and Jackson State standout has found himself in a crowded quarterback group that includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and injured starter Deshaun Watson.
Rather than being intimidated by the depth chart, Sanders is keeping his perspective narrow.
"Just focus on myself and what I need to do to get better, and any areas you know I'm lacking in," Sanders said during an appearance on the Browns' "Best Podcast Available" on Friday.
The Browns traded up to select Sanders with the 144th overall pick despite already drafting Gabriel in the third round. That move signaled the team's belief in his long-term potential-potential he's already flashed in offseason drills.
At rookie minicamp, Sanders delivered a series of sharp throws, including a pair of touchdown es during 7-on-7 sessions.
Sanders finds renewed energy in Cleveland's team atmosphere
The transition to the NFL hasn't just been about football for Sanders-it's also been about rediscovering joy in the game. After enduring a rigorous and high-pressure pre-draft process, he's finally breathing a little easier.
"For sure I had fun, but you got to think in those (pre-draft) process, it's so serious, so serious, so serious all the time," Sanders told Browns team reporter Andrew Siciliano.
"Whenever you're around teammates and being around everybody now, it gave me that wholesome feeling again being around the team chemistry, the different personalities that you're going to meet."
With Watson still recovering from an Achilles tear, and Flacco and Pickett both on short-term deals, the Browns have created a uniquely layered quarterback room.
Gabriel, like Sanders, is a rookie-but was taken with a top-100 pick, which typically signals a stronger investment.
Still, head coach Kevin Stefanski has hinted at some fluidity in the QB hierarchy, and Sanders could climb the ranks if he continues to develop quickly.
ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi noted that Sanders is expected to enter training camp as the fourth quarterback, with no guarantee of making the final roster.
Even so, Sanders arrives with a resume that suggests staying power. Across his college career at Jackson State and Colorado, he threw for over 14,000 yards with 134 touchdowns, completing more than 70 percent of his es while showing poise and maturity under pressure.
The Browns are in no rush to throw him into a starting role, but Sanders' steady approach and collegiate productivity make him a compelling long-term project.
Whether or not he sees meaningful snaps in 2025, his focus on personal growth may be what ultimately separates him from the rest.