Browns Rookies Show Promise, but Leadership Will Be the Next Step in Their Evolution
After the Browns’ loss to the 49ers on Sunday, rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders didn’t shy away from accountability. He stepped up to the mic and said what you want to hear from a young QB: that he needs to be better at rallying the team when adversity hits. Sanders didn’t play poorly-far from it-but he recognized that when the offense needed a spark after some costly special teams miscues, he couldn’t quite light the fire.
That kind of self-awareness is rare for a rookie with just two starts under his belt. But it’s also exactly the mindset that can help a young quarterback grow into a leader.
Sanders knows the job isn’t just about stats and throws-it’s about presence. And right now, he’s learning how to command a huddle, not just execute a playbook.
Veteran defensive end Myles Garrett, the heartbeat of this Browns defense and a future Hall of Famer, was asked about Sanders’ comments. His response? Classic Garrett-honest, supportive, and rooted in experience.
“Young guys sometimes don’t know if they have the platform to lead,” Garrett said. “But this is our team just as much as it is yours; take ownership of it. Don’t be afraid to say what’s on your mind.”
That’s not just a soundbite. That’s a veteran throwing his arm around the next generation and telling them: this locker room belongs to all of us.
Garrett, now in his ninth season, is feeling the urgency. He’s been through the grind, the rebuilds, the near-misses.
He knows what it takes to win in the NFL, and he also knows that leadership can’t wait until Year 4 or 5. It has to start now-especially for a team trying to turn the corner.
And the Browns’ 2025 rookie class? They’ve already shown they belong on the field.
Defensively, Carson Schwesinger and Mason Graham have been disruptive forces, bringing energy and physicality to a unit that’s long been anchored by Garrett. Offensively, it’s been a youth movement.
Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr., Dylan Sampson, and the quarterback duo of Sanders and Dillon Gabriel have all played meaningful snaps-and in some cases, made game-changing plays.
But playing well is one thing. Leading is another.
These rookies didn’t arrive in Cleveland just to fill roster spots. They came from winning programs, with the mentality that they can help reshape the Browns’ culture.
And that’s not just talk-they’ve backed it up with their play. Still, as every NFL player learns, the season is a rollercoaster.
There are going to be weeks like Sunday, where the team stumbles and the locker room feels heavy.
How this rookie class responds to those moments will define more than just their first season. It could shape the direction of the franchise.
Garrett’s challenge to the young guys was clear: don’t wait for someone to hand you the keys. Speak up.
Lead. Own your role.
Because the Browns don’t just need talent-they need voices. They need urgency.
And they need players who see the bigger picture.
Sunday was a step back, no doubt. But if Sanders and the rest of the 2025 class take Garrett’s words to heart, it could also be the kind of moment that sparks something deeper. Something lasting.
The Browns have the pieces. Now it’s about building the identity. And that starts with leadership-on the field, in the huddle, and in the locker room.