Shedeur Sanders made the most of his surprise start in the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener Friday night.
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The rookie quarterback, drafted in the fifth round, went from fourth string to starter when injuries and rest days shuffled Cleveland's depth chart. As written by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Sanders embraced the opportunity, and may have opened some eyes in the process.
His performance even drew a quick nod from Nike, which released an "Only a matter of time" ad shortly after the game, via Pat Benson of Sports Illustrated.
Florio opined that Sanders should not have slipped to pick No. 144, suggesting his drop stemmed from treating the pre-draft process more like a recruiting visit than a job interview. That approach may have turned off some teams, but Florio argued it was unfair to equate Sanders' demeanor with a lack of work ethic.
When you get your opportunity, create your next one. pic.twitter.com/YiHJUJAiov
— Nike Football (@usnikefootball) August 9, 2025
The comparison came with a Browns history lesson. In 2014, rookie Johnny Manziel learned midweek he would start on Sunday and still attended a Cavaliers game instead of fully locking in. Florio believes Sanders is wired differently and would be ready if given a regular-season start.
For now, the focus is on whether Sanders can build on his debut when Cleveland faces the Eagles on Saturday. Florio highlighted several traits from his first outing — subtle pocket movement, eluding pressure, and fearlessly releasing passes just before taking a hit — that could translate to games that count.
It's only preseason, but Florio noted that Sanders' success would challenge the unspoken expectation that draft prospects should humble themselves during the interview process. And for a franchise that has struggled to find a long-term answer at quarterback, the Browns may have stumbled into one.
