The Browns’ rookie quarterback situation drew a blunt take from Deion Sanders, who said Shedeur Sanders’ first season in Cleveland was not something he wanted to see go any worse than it did. But he also made clear he doesn’t view quarterback success as a solo act.
“I would have wanted him to perform a little better, but that’s not just an individual thing, that’s a team thing,” Sanders said. “A quarterback needs help tremendously from the offensive line, from the receivers, from the running game, from the coordinators as well.
It’s not just a singular thing, like a defensive back. I don’t care what the pass rush is, [the DB] has got to do his job.
It’s a little different with a quarterback. He needs several things to go right for him to be successful.”
In Baltimore, Mark Andrews said the Ravens are working through an offense that looks very different from what they’ve had since entering the league. He believes Lamar Jackson will handle the shift and turn it into another layer of danger for the unit.
“This is a different offense than we’ve been a part of since we got into the league - it’s totally different than anything we’ve done,” Andrews said, via Pro Football Talk. “I think [Jackson’s] going to make it his own, adapt to it and be the best that there is.
That’s the type of person that he is and that’s the type of guys and coaches that we have. I think that’s a scary sight when you see Lamar Jackson adding new things to his repertoire.”
Pittsburgh’s roster picture is still being sorted out, and Mark Kaboly’s 53-man projection starts at quarterback. He would keep Mason Rudolph and try to get Will Howard through to the practice squad.
Kaboly also has Riley Nowakowski winning the fullback job, which leaves one spot at running back for either Kaleb Johnson or Eli Heidenreich. Heidenreich may have local appeal, but Kaboly sees a steep path for him to crack the roster, while Johnson’s status as a third-round pick and his talent make him the more likely player the team will want to hold onto this early.
Kaboly’s projection also includes Dean Lowry, LB, and LB Jamin Davis.
In Other News...
Steelers Fans Are Starting To Worry About A Supposed Defensive Anchor
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Patrick Queen is the name that hangs over that conversation. After arriving in Pittsburgh on a three-year deal in 2024 and earning a Pro Bowl nod that season, he has still left some uneven tape behind him, including a PFF finish last year that placed him near the bottom of the off-ball linebacker group. For a defense that wants stability from its supposed anchor, the question is whether Queen can turn that inconsistency into something much closer to the standard the Steelers thought they were buying. [Read more 🡒]
Former Chargers 1,000-Yard Back Suddenly Carries Unfinished Business Elsewhere
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Najee Harris, a former Pro Bowler who made his biggest mark with Pittsburgh before a recent stint with the Chargers, has been mentioned as a possible fit for the Seahawks backfield mix. His rsum still carries weight, but the bigger question is whether Seattle sees him as a short-term insurance policy or something more, especially with the roster construction in that position still very much in motion. [Read more 🡒]
Former Steelers Tight End Suddenly Draws New AFC Buzz
Jonnu Smiths name is back in the AFC conversation after a career year with Miami put him on the radar of teams looking for help at tight end. Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports pointed to the former Steelers tight end as a free-agent option for Denver, where the Broncos have been searching for more production at a spot that has not given them much this season.
For Pittsburgh, Smiths rise is a familiar reminder of how quickly a veteran tight end can change a market when he finds the right fit. He flashed enough last year to make teams take notice, and the Broncos need only sharpens the intrigue around a player who has already shown he can still be a difference-maker after the catch. [Read more 🡒]