Shedeur Sanders Shows Flashes, But Browns' Conservative Approach Raises Questions
Shedeur Sanders made his second NFL start on Sunday, and while the Cleveland Browns walked away with a 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the story for many wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was about how the Browns are choosing to use - or not use - their rookie quarterback.
Sanders, still early in his pro journey, showed glimpses of the talent that made him a standout at Colorado. But in a game where Cleveland needed a spark, there was a sense that the playbook didn’t give him the room to be that guy. And that’s exactly what longtime analyst Skip Bayless zeroed in on in his postgame reaction.
Bayless didn’t hold back, calling on the Browns - and specifically head coach Kevin Stefanski - to loosen the reins and let Sanders play with more freedom. “At some point,” Bayless said, “Kevin Stefanski is going to have to take the training wheels off Shedeur Sanders.” He even suggested that it might take intervention from owner Jimmy Haslam to make that happen.
The critique wasn’t just about X’s and O’s. Bayless pointed to the intangibles - the confidence, the charisma, the playmaking instinct - that Sanders brings to the field.
“Yeah, he’s an NFL baby,” Bayless said, “but the kid’s got game. He’s got flair, he’s got swagger, he’s got charisma.
You have to let Shedeur be Shedeur.”
That’s a sentiment that resonates with anyone who watched Sanders at Colorado. He wasn’t just a system quarterback - he was often the system. Whether it was extending plays, escaping pressure, or making something out of nothing, Sanders thrived when the ball was in his hands and the play broke down.
In Sunday’s game, the Browns kept things tight. Conservative.
Measured. And while that’s often the approach with young quarterbacks, especially against a defense as fearsome as San Francisco’s, there were moments where it felt like Cleveland missed an opportunity to let Sanders create.
Bayless pointed to one key stretch - late in the first half - when the game was still close. “That game was winnable,” he said.
“I know the final score was 26-8 San Francisco. But late in the first half, it was 8-7, Shedeur’s team.”
In other words, the Browns were in it. And if they’d opened things up a bit more, who knows?
Of course, Bayless’ take drew plenty of criticism from fans online, many of whom felt he was giving Sanders too much of a pass. Some pointed out that the rookie still holds onto the ball too long, a habit that’s led to avoidable sacks. Others felt Bayless was deflecting blame from the quarterback and placing it solely on the coaching staff.
But Bayless wasn’t just talking about protection schemes or play calls - he was talking about unlocking Sanders’ mobility. “He is mobile,” Bayless said.
“I’m not saying he’s got his papa’s legs… but Shedeur can move.” He referenced Sanders’ time at Colorado, where designed quarterback draws and read-option plays were part of the arsenal.
“He has athletic ability, shiftiness, where he can make you miss,” Bayless added. “You have to let him ignite the offense by making a play.”
That’s the crux of the conversation. Sanders isn’t a pure dual-threat quarterback, but he’s mobile enough to extend plays, escape pressure, and keep defenses honest.
Right now, though, the Browns aren’t tapping into that part of his game. Whether that’s by design or caution, it’s limiting what Sanders can do - and what this offense can be.
The Browns are in a tough spot. They’ve got a talented young quarterback with clear upside, but they’re also trying to manage his development in the middle of a playoff race and against top-tier opponents. It’s a delicate balance between protecting a rookie and empowering him.
But as Bayless and others have pointed out, at some point, the Browns may need to let Sanders play his game - not just the game designed for him. Because if they don’t, they risk stalling his growth and missing out on the very things that make him special.