Shedeur Sanders earning early NFL respect with extra reps at Browns minicamp Former CU Buffs star Shedeur Sanders is making the most of his NFL opportunity, staying late after Browns minicamp and quietly building momentum in a crowded QB room

A Quarterback’s True Measure

You can learn a lot about a quarterback when the spotlight fades. For Shedeur Sanders, it’s what happens after the final whistle that truly reveals his character.

This past Wednesday, while most of his teammates had already left the field, Sanders remained honing his mechanics, throwing on the move, and working on his footwork under the Ohio sun. For 20 focused minutes, he practiced like someone on a mission. And truthfully, he is.

Letting His Work Speak

In Cleveland’s quarterback hierarchy, Sanders finds himself starting behind veterans like Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookie Dillon Gabriel. On paper, he’s not at the top. But Sanders is sticking to what’s always worked: show up early, stay late, and let the performance talk.

So far, he’s making his point. Through two days of Browns minicamp, Sanders leads all quarterbacks in completion percentage. He went 10 of 12 with two touchdowns on Day 1 and followed that with an 8 of 9 showing and another score on Day 2. That’s an 85.7% completion rate during 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 drills a level of efficiency that stands out, regardless of where you sit on the depth chart.

When Sanders spoke to the media, he described a locked-in mentality. You could see it, too. He’s not just adjusting to NFL tempo he looks at ease. He’s refining his footwork under center, building chemistry with the second unit, and embracing every rep Cleveland gives him.

Praise from the Top

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has noticed Sanders’ effort and approach.

“He’s in early and gets his work done,” Stefanski told ESPN Cleveland. “I like everything about him.”

Still, Stefanski was quick to remind that minicamp reps aren’t depth chart declarations. Rotations are wide open, the offense is being installed, and for now, Sanders is viewed as a developmental player.

But it’s clear he’s gaining ground.

Locked In

Earlier this offseason, Sanders made headlines by saying he hadn’t spoken much to family since the draft—not even to his father, Coach Prime. He declined to comment on his dad’s health when asked again this week.

While it raised eyebrows outside the locker room, insiders know: rookies often isolate themselves to stay focused.

For Sanders, that narrow focus looks more like intense discipline than anything else. He slipped to the fifth round in the draft and he’s using it as motivation.

If his early performance is any sign, the chip on his shoulder might just become his greatest asset.