Browns' Shedeur Sanders Details Why He Refuses to Let Critics Dictate His Success
Shedeur Sanders sat through 143 picks before the Cleveland Browns called his name on draft night in 2025. For a quarterback many had pegged as a first-round talent, that slide became one of the louder storylines of the season.
Thrown into a struggling offense midway through the season, Sanders started seven games and finished with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The 56.6% completion rate and high sack numbers reflected some of the concerns scouts had flagged before the draft.
But there were stretches of sharp accuracy and real composure in the pocket, and a 3-4 record in his starts at least showed he could handle the pace of the NFL.
His mindset was tested pretty early. While speaking to reporters as the Browns opened their offseason training program, Sanders opened up about his mental approach and why outside noise doesn't get to him after a turbulent first season in the league.
"I don't let nobody else dictate how I feel about myself. If you allow that, then you live for the wrong reason. I know who I am as a person, as an individual, and just being a child of God." Sanders said, per Mary Kay Cabot. "So, I can't let nobody dictate how I could feel about myself. And if I allow that, then I'm not mentally strong. I got to be able to be mentally strong in each and every situation that life goes at you."
Browns Give Shedeur Sanders First-Team Reps
Heading into year two, the conversation around Sanders has changed inside the building. Under new head coach Todd Monken, he handled first-team reps during 11-on-11 drills at Tuesday's opening practice of the offseason program.
He didn't see any of those reps last offseason, so that alone says something about where things stand. The fifth-round pick who made headlines for the wrong reasons in 2025 is now right in the middle of a real quarterback competition in Cleveland.
Dillon Gabriel is also in the picture and Deshaun Watson continues working his way back from a serious knee injury. The job is still up for grabs.
Sanders doesn't appear too caught up in any of it. A year removed from one of the more debated draft slides in recent memory, he's made it clear that outside opinions don't move the needle for him.
Based on how the Browns are handling his reps this offseason, it looks like the team is ready to give him a legitimate shot at proving those opinions wrong.
Related: How Becoming a Father Changed Josh Allen Before the 2026 NFL Season
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 1:15 PM.