Shedeur Sanders will get his first NFL start this coming Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, and this opportunity has a chance to be career-defining for him.
Shedeur Sanders Will Get First Career Start Against The Raiders
One of the most polarizing figures in the NFL, in just a short stint, is a fifth-round pick quarterback in Cleveland, Ohio. Shedeur Sanders has made waves around the NFL as a hot topic backup quarterback with a large contingent of media and fans calling for Sanders to get an opportunity to start on a woeful 2-8 Cleveland Browns team. After spending several games of the season as either the emergency third quarterback or the backup quarterback, Sanders will finally get his chance to start due to a concussion to starter Dillon Gabriel, and what he does with this opportunity will be career-defining for him.
Last week, when Gabriel went down against the Baltimore Ravens, and Sanders had his first official taste of NFL playing time, and the results were up-and-down as expected. Sanders went 4-16 for 47 yards, an interception, and two sacks. Stepping in and playing against a quality team like the Ravens isn’t easy; however, he will get to play an even-matched Raiders team with a full week of preparation, and if he can’t look stable, it could be a long path back to another starting opportunity.
Shedeur Must Play Well in his first start
Fair or not, Sanders has to put on a show on Sunday when he gets his opportunity, and he’s in this position by his own doing. Going back to the NFL Draft in April, Sanders was projected to be a first- or second-round pick, but ended up dropping all the way to the fifth round due to his pre-draft process meetings with teams. It was reported that Sanders bombed some of his pre-draft meetings, likely because he thought he was going higher than he did.
He was the second quarterback drafted by his own team, with Gabriel going in the third. Joe Flacco was the starter for Cleveland throughout camp, and Gabriel beat Sanders out for he backup spot behind Flacco to begin the season. After Flacco was traded, Gabriel was elevated to a starter, and even though he has had bright spots, Gabriel has blown his opportunities out of the water.
Sanders will need to have a strong game to prove why he should have been playing over Gabriel. He has been adamant that he has been ready for this moment, often telling the media he has been ready to step in and play and has just been staying patient, waiting for his opportunity.
Shedeur’s first start will be career-defining
The NFL has decided that it does not see Sanders as a starting quarterback in this league, based on his draft status. Sanders is a polarizing figure, making it challenging for teams to embrace him as a backup quarterback due to the attention he attracts. However, if Sanders goes out and plays well, he could earn himself an opportunity to start in the NFL, even if it isn’t in Cleveland.
Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski has been steadfast and unwavering in his support for Gabriel, and has often brushed off many of the questions being asked about Sanders and when his opportunity could come. Browns fans and Sanders fans alike have expressed frustration with Sanders not getting a shot at leading the Browns offense, especially after mixed results from Gabriel. However, Stefanski had made it clear that Sanders would just need to keep working on improving, and an opportunity could arise for him. So if Sanders goes and lights it up against the Raiders, it could at least make the decision tougher on Stefanski on who would get the next start at quarterback, presumably when Gabriel is back healthy.
Cleveland is badly looking for its next franchise quarterback, and Sanders will have an opportunity to show he can be that.
Main Image: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
