Shedeur Sanders is still pushing to make the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback battle uncomfortable for Deshaun Watson, but his latest offseason work has drawn a blunt reminder of the challenge ahead.
Sanders has been trying to show the Browns he can be more than a developmental passer after an uneven rookie season.
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His arm talent has flashed, his confidence remains obvious and Cleveland’s coaching staff has given him enough opportunity to stay relevant in the QB1 conversation.
Yet one clip from a speed drill brought out a harsh assessment from former NFL scout Daniel Kelly: “He’s way too slow,” Kelly wrote on X.
It was a short verdict, but it cut directly into one of the biggest questions around Sanders. The former Colorado quarterback has always been most comfortable winning from the pocket, not as a designed-run threat.
His 4.68-second 40-yard dash was respectable, but it did not place him among the NFL’s most dynamic athletes at the position. Sanders rushed for 169 yards and one touchdown last season while finishing 3-4 as a starter.
He threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, showing promise in stretches but also the inconsistency expected from a young quarterback still adjusting to NFL speed.
Browns still see room for growth
Cleveland coach Todd Monken hasn’t presented Sanders as an elite rushing quarterback, but he has pushed back against the idea that he’s a statue in the pocket.
Monken believes Sanders has enough movement ability to escape pressure, extend plays and avoid negative situations.
“I said this morning that 15 or 20 years ago, they would have said that Shedeur Sanders was athletic,” Monken told ESPN.
“They would have said he could escape. Well, the game’s changed so much to now he’s not a mobile quarterback. No, [Sanders is] mobile.
“He’s not as mobile as what we’ve come to where Lamar Jackson or the quickness that these players have. Their escape ability is completely changed from when it was.”
Monken also made clear that Sanders’ feel inside the pocket stood out more than expected during the pre-draft process.
“I think Shedeur surprised me a little bit in terms of … ‘mobile’ might (not be apt) but he’s got a knack, he’s got a feel, like he does in playmaking,” Monken said at the NFL Combine.
“He has a real sense in the pocket when it starts to collapse and moving around the pocket and he made more plays or got himself out of trouble than I would’ve guessed, than I would’ve thought even coming out, which was nice to see.”
Watson remains the target to catch
Watson is still viewed as the favorite to open the season as Cleveland’s starter, even after injury-hit years and ongoing uncertainty around his form.
His experience and past rushing production give him an edge, though his own mobility will be watched closely as he returns from physical setbacks.
Sanders has given the Browns reasons to keep investing. He reportedly impressed in minicamp with deep touchdown passes to Denzel Boston and Isaiah Bond, and Cleveland isn’t expected to move him quickly despite trade speculation.
The race is still Watson’s to lose. Sanders’ path depends on faster processing, cleaner decisions and proving he can survive without elite speed.
Kelly’s criticism may sting, but it also frames the question that will follow him into camp which is, can Sanders be quick enough where it matters most?