It was the day the Browns fans had been waiting for after drafting Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of this year’s draft, following a college career filled with flashes along with inconsistency at Colorado. Once a projected top-five pick, Sanders entered the game today following fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who exited the game with a concussion.
Sanders immediately stepped on the field and raised his hand to the crowd to pump them up. This, however, was the most pumped that they would be for the rest of the day. The quarterback entered the game with a 16-10 lead late in the first half.
Sanders started the game off great as his first NFL pass was a completion to Cedric Tillman; however, from there it would be a challenge. During his debut. Sanders went 3-15, along with an interception that he threw straight to the Ravens defense on his second drive. His first drive consisted of two completions and a sack, which was by far his best drive of the game.
Sanders drove his team downfield just once in the game. The Browns elected to go for it on fourth down; however, the young quarterback would not be able to contribute points towards his team’s totals. The one thing that we did see from Sanders, however, was his ability to move. There were several instances where he evaded defenders to gain a few yards on the ground, utilizing his legs.
The downside, however, was that Sanders never really looked comfortable in the pocket. Too often, he drifted backwards instead of stepping up, putting himself in challenging throwing positions. This led to several passes off balance and off his back foot, which led to him missing a wide-open touchdown in the fourth. If Sanders can settle his feet and trust his protection, his natural talent will likely shine.
Sanders will now look to get a full week of practice under his belt as the Browns’ starter. Next week, Cleveland travels to Las Vegas to face the Raiders, whose defense will pose a significant threat. Star edge Max Crosby is one of the league’s best disruptors, and he should make Sanders’ day hard if he is not prepared.