Insiders expand on where Sanders ‘very clearly’ is on Browns’ depth chart

Rookie Shedeur Sanders reportedly produced spectacular numbers throughout the Cleveland Browns’ organized staff actions observe session on Wednesday. Nevertheless, it was additionally mentioned that Sanders was a “distant fourth” behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel because it pertains to reps taken.

Throughout the newest version of the “Orange and Brown Talk Podcast,” Browns reporters Dan Labbe and Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Seller expanded on what did and did not occur in Berea on Wednesday. 

“Right this moment, at the least, Shedeur Sanders very a lot regarded just like the fourth quarterback,” Labbe instantly mentioned. “Dillon Gabriel was working his means up and down a bit bit. Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco have been buying and selling issues out just about all day. In the whole lot we watched, Shedeur Sanders was, I don’t wish to say an afterthought, however he was undoubtedly the final man within the pecking order.”

Cabot famous that Sanders “undoubtedly was” QB4 throughout Wednesday’s observe. 

That is smart contemplating Sanders was the final of the 4 signal-callers to formally be a part of the Browns this spring. Cleveland traded for Pickett earlier than the membership signed Flacco forward of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Browns later made Gabriel a third-round draft choose earlier than they took a flier on Sanders within the fifth spherical of the player-selection course of. 

“Sanders could be very clearly fourth on the depth chart,” Browns insider Jason Lloyd of The Athletic wrote for a bit revealed Wednesday evening. “…If Sanders goes to win [the starting job] or perhaps a spot on the roster, he has some hurdling to do. Fortunately for him, he has loads of time.”

For what it is price, most native reporters consider solely Flacco or Pickett has a legit likelihood to emerge as Cleveland’s Week 1 starter so long as each keep wholesome. FanDuel Sportsbook has persistently listed Flacco because the betting favourite at +116 odds to win the job. 

That mentioned, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic talked about in a bit posted on Thursday that “Sanders is a greater prospect (than Gabriel) and did extra statistically final season with far much less expertise round him.”

“If there’s any Day 3 quarterback with an affordable line to a beginning job,” Baumgardner added, “it’s Sanders, who joins Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel in a combat to take Deshaun Watson’s old job. Flacco is 40, Pickett is on his third staff in 4 years and Gabriel, regardless of being chosen increased on this 12 months’s draft than Sanders, is a 5-foot-11 QB with loads of query marks.”

Followers who assumed forward of the draft that Sanders was a first-round expertise will undeniably marketing campaign for the polarizing prospect to obtain enjoying time this fall if the Browns enter November with a shedding report. Moreover, Cleveland might commerce Flacco or Pickett shortly after the staff names a Week 1 QB1. 

Cabot was certain to level out that head coach Kevin Stefanski “indicated he’ll proceed to combine up the order — resembling flip-flopping Pickett and Flacco going first in staff drills — which means not an excessive amount of needs to be learn into Sanders’ standing on the outset.” Briefly, it is potential Stefanski needed outsiders to imagine he has Gabriel forward of Sanders on the depth chart as of the ultimate week of Might.