Cleveland Browns icon cools Shedeur Sanders fire with starting prediction but ‘un-phased’ rookie quarterback has other ideas

All eyes throughout NFL training camp so far have been firmly fixed on the Cleveland Browns.

This comes as they make the decision who their starting quarterback will be going into the 2025 NFL season, with a plethora of choices at their disposal.

Getty

Experienced veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett lead the way, but rookies in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders have been the player making headlines – the latter in particular given his status.

Kosar weighs in on the Browns QB battle

Over a week into training camp, Browns legendary quarterback Bernie Kosar sat down with 92.3 The Fan Cleveland to discuss the ongoing quarterback saga. 

“I love how (Shedeur) is handling stuff,” Kosar told Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin. “He’s out here an hour early working out. He’s one of the last guys here, signing autographs, and being nice. Dillon Gabriel’s picking up the system. It’s fun to watch.

“I would caution fans. Early in his [Baker Mayfield] career, I thought the team was going to struggle, so I thought that Tyrod Taylor should have been the quarterback. Let’s sacrifice those old veteran guys. Don’t dissipate the belief and confidence of a young quarterback. 

“We kill more quarterbacks by putting them in there early, so to have the veterans play early in September I think could be very productive for the long-term careers of the team and the young quarterbacks.”

As it stands it is expected that the 17-year veteran will be under center in Week 1, with ‘Flacco Fever’ still very much alive in Cleveland. 

These odds have been boosted by Pickett, who spent last season as the back-up to Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts at the Philadelphia Eagles, suffering a hamstring injury. 

The Browns are expected to re-evaluate him later next week. 

Sanders has his sights set on being QB1

Sanders’ efforts in training camp so far though, have not gone unnoticed, with his throwing metrics so far having been consistent, while his physical attributes including his height are seen as more advantageous than fellow rookie, Gabriel. 

Kosar also sat down with Sanders on Friday, where the two discussed the quarterback’s process before, during and after a training camp practice, with the 23-year-old’s motive clear.

YouTube/ @browns

Getty

“I’m definitely taking every day for what it is and finding ways to get better throughout everything,” Sanders told Kosar. “That’s pretty much my main focus right now. 

“I just like pressure. I like situations like that. That stuff doesn’t really phase me, that’s normal to me,” Sanders continued. “Life, of course, is going to bring you different problems and you’re going to be faced with different things. 

“So it’s always going to be pressure on you, but I just get comfortable in those situations.”

Kosar also asked the former Colorado Buffaloes star what his favorite thing is when he sees a blitz defense coming his way – Sanders’ response was a simple one: “I get the ball in my hands.”

“My main thing throughout my college career is trying to find better ways to get the ball in my hands quickly, speed up my process with my decision-making, everything.

“I’m just being a normal human, I don’t think anything is hard when it comes to that. It’s something I internally just feel like doing.

“At this point in life, I don’t think I would fake anything because there’s no need. Everything is just genuinely how I am,” Sanders said to Kosar when asked about why he shows up early and stays late at practice.

Day 9 of training camp wrapped up on Saturday for the Browns, but Sanders suffered his first minor setback as he did not field any reps due to dealing with some shoulder soreness. 

But, in his most recent outing on Friday, Sanders completed 70 percent of his passes with a touchdown pass thrown in for good measure.

Again, it gives head coach Kevin Stefanksi and the rest of the coaching staff even more of a headache when it comes to making their final decision on who to trust under center.

Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our NFL Facebook page, subscribe to our talkSPORT End Zone YouTube channel for all the offseason news, interviews and more.