Mel Kiper Jr. certainly stirred the pot with his take on Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft. As Sanders slipped to the fifth round, Kiper didn't hold back, criticizing all 32 teams for passing on his top-rated quarterback. Before Sanders was picked, Kiper delivered a zinger on national TV: “The NFL has been clueless for 50 years when it comes to evaluating quarterbacks.”
Sanders, who landed with the Browns, had a rocky rookie season. He played in eight games, completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, tallying seven touchdowns against ten interceptions. Not exactly a dream start, but rookies often face growing pains.
On a recent episode of “ESPN First Draft,” Field Yates brought up the Browns as a possible destination for Alabama QB Ty Simpson, given their No. 6 and No. 24 picks in the upcoming draft. Kiper quickly shot down the idea, defending Sanders: “The Browns don’t have to worry about Ty Simpson. They got a better quarterback in Shedeur Sanders than Ty Simpson.”
While Kiper stands by Sanders, it’s worth noting Simpson's impressive 2025 season at Alabama, where he threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.
The Browns are gearing up for a quarterback showdown in training camp. Haslam Sports Group partner JW Johnson emphasized the competitive nature of the upcoming camp: “Nobody is getting handed the keys to the car today. They’re going to come in and compete.”
Deshaun Watson is on the mend from a major injury, and both Sanders and Dillon Gabriel had their ups and downs as rookies. With a new head coach in the mix, the stage is set for an open competition. Sanders has a shot at winning the starting job, but he’ll need to outshine both Gabriel and Watson.
The Browns might throw another wrench into the mix by drafting a quarterback this April, a move that would likely draw more commentary from Kiper. For Sanders, the path to starting QB is clear but challenging, and the upcoming camp will be crucial in determining his future in Cleveland.