Shedeur Sanders might be closer to the end of the Browns' QB competition than we think. The fifth-round pick has consistently impressed with his performance in practice sessions and minicamps, a testament to which are both the head coach and fellow players.
Perhaps Sanders can get to a level where he could start games later in the season despite being last in the Browns pecking order.
Browns Insider Mary Kay Cabot believes Sanders might quietly be closing the gap between him and the other three QBs ahead of him in the pecking order.
"If Shedeur Sanders continues to progress in training camp like he has over the past two weeks, he’ll narrow the gap on the other three Browns quarterbacks in the competition," Cabot wrote.
"After a bit of a slow start in spring practices, Sanders has come on strong over the past two weeks with plenty of completions, touchdown passes and grasp of the scheme. Granted, he’s still the fourth-team quarterback and has a long way to go.
"But he’s made significant strides during recent organized team activities and the mandatory minicamp, remaining alive in the competition."
That hardly means that Sanders will have a shot at starting in Week 1.
It just means his name will stay alive in the conversation in the Browns' uncertain QB room.
"He’s still a longshot to start on opening day, but if he knocks the Browns’ socks off during the preseason, he’ll at least remain in the conversation," Cabot wrote.
"It’s more likely that he’d make his way onto the field later in the season, but no one has been ruled out yet in the four-man competition among veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Sanders."
Keeping all this aside, Sanders' top goal for now should be making it to the 53-man roster.
Once he does that, he will have plenty of time to prove himself later in the season, or even as a backup QB.
His progress report from Berea indicates Sanders should not have much problem in completing that goal.