One NFL insider painted a grim picture of where Shedeur Sanders stands in the Cleveland Browns' QB competition.
Shedeur Sanders' Roster Spot May Be In Jeopardy After Latest Browns QB Update originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Shedeur Sanders could be facing an uphill battle to earn a spot on the final roster of the Cleveland Browns, with one insider offering a dire update on his spot in the quarterback race.
The former Colorado quarterback was already at a disadvantage when he joined the team, falling from his status as a presumed Top 5 pick all the way to the fifth round of the draft. He started the offseason as No. 4 on the depth chart, and NFL reporter Albert Breer believes that Sanders hasn't moved up at all.
"I don't know how many times I have to say this, but it's reality. Dillon Gabriel is ahead of Shedeur Sanders right now, and has been since both arrived in Cleveland," Breer wrote on Saturday. "Sanders has worked to catch up, but he's got a lot of ground to make up."
Sanders lost an opportunity to make up ground on Saturday, when he was held out of practice due to arm soreness. Veteran Kenny Pickett, who has been competing with Joe Flacco for the starting job, has also been limited with an injury and admitted that the lost time is hurting both him and Sanders.
"It's next man up," Pickett said after practice. "When you're not in a competition, I think you're losing ground. I think that's the nature of the business, the nature of the game. It's great for those two guys to get extra reps, but me and Shedeur have got to get back out there."
While Pickett could still likely make the roster as a No. 2, Sanders faces an even more difficult path and would likely be waived at the end of training camp if he does not move up the depth chart. While the Browns could try putting him through to the practice squad, Sanders would not be guaranteed even that spot if he remains solidly behind Gabriel.
Related: Browns Predicted to Pass on Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel for New Starting QB
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
