BEREA, Ohio — On Friday, Shedeur Sanders began the journey to demonstrate his potential impact in the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition. Despite his initial expectations of being a first-round pick, Sanders entered the limelight as the highly talked-about 144th-overall draft choice after unexpectedly slipping to the fifth round. He participated in his inaugural practice session during the Browns’ two-day rookie minicamp.
Sporting an orange jersey with the number 12, Sanders, the son of legendary Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, received an equal number of snaps in the 90-minute practice as Dillon Gabriel, a third-round draft selection. Head Coach Kevin Stefanski commented positively on the performance of both quarterbacks, noting their dedication.
“I think the fun part is we’ve spent so much pre-draft time with these players, particularly when we’re talking about our quarterbacks with Dillon and Shedeur,” Stefanski stated. “We’ve spent meeting time with them out of this building. We’ve taken them through walkthroughs and then they get to go do it in uniform with the helmets on and just see what they can take from the meeting room to the grass.”
Interviews with Sanders and Gabriel are anticipated on Saturday, following the Browns’ presentation of their other draft picks to the media on Friday. Both quarterbacks commenced with individual exercises and a 7-on-7 drill, each having the opportunity for six plays during the full-team drills.
Gabriel, donning jersey number 5, received the opening snaps in the 11-on-11 segment, possibly a reflection of his higher draft status. Stefanski offered no specific explanation for this sequence. “I think you’ll see the whole weekend, going through the spring, we don’t pay too close attention to who’s in there first,” he explained.
The decision to draft two quarterbacks prompted the Browns to alter their practice routine, emphasizing increased 7-on-7 work where skill players challenge linebackers and defensive backfields. To enhance practice efficiency, Cleveland extended trial opportunities to six wide receivers and two tight ends over the weekend.
Both Sanders and Gabriel are facing the challenge of adapting to playing more frequently from under center, as their experience predominantly involves shotgun formations. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is actively coaching them on areas necessitating improvement.
Stefanski identified technique refinement as critical for both players as they prepare to integrate into the quarterback squad alongside seasoned veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett in the coming week. Although assessing the quarterback competition, Stefanski refrained from naming a frontrunner at this juncture.
“There’s a lot of time between now and September, so we will have a plan. It’s an all-encompassing evaluation,” Stefanski continued. “It’s not something that it’s just based on the practice reps. There’s a lot that goes into it.”
Defensive end Mason Graham, the Browns’ fifth overall pick, expressed indifference towards the extra attention Sanders garners. “I come to play football. If the media’s on me, then they’re on me. If the media’s not, then it’s not. I’m just going to do my job at the end of the day,” he remarked.
In other news, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, selected in the second round, and fourth-round running back Dylan Sampson completed their rookie contract signings. Additionally, Stefanski acknowledged linebacker Devin Bush’s recent presence “in the building this week” following charges of harassment and misdemeanor simple assault. The legal matters arose from an incident involving Bush’s actions in his suburban Pittsburgh home.