The Cleveland Browns’ approach to their quarterback situation — and their handling of Shedeur Sanders in particular — has drawn sharp criticism from Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith.
During his introductory press conference, new Browns head coach Todd Monken declined to name Sanders the starter moving forward.
“I think like any position on the team, that’s still to be determined,” Monken said. “Am I excited about Shedeur? Am I excited about all the quarterbacks in the room? Am I excited to coach this football team? Absolutely. I can’t wait for them to get back and for us to get started.”
Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson are all under contract for next season. Cleveland is also expected to explore the draft, free agency and the trade market to build out their quarterback room.
Smith argued the Browns are operating from a position of need at quarterback. While other teams have confidently handed the job to young starters, Cleveland lacks both a clear answer and a defined direction.
“I guess coaches want to make sure that guys know that there is no security and they want them to compete for the job. No one wants to hand anything to them. This is the way they’re treating Shedeur,” Smith said on the Up & Adams show. “But they handed it to Drake Maye and the kid out in (Los Angeles) and Jacksonville. They also handed it to Sam Darnold and other players. What does Cleveland have? Absolutely nothing. What’s the debate? Are you going to give it to Dillon again?”
Emmitt Smith: Browns ‘Different’ With Shedeur Sanders
Sanders started seven games as a rookie, going 3-4 in those contests. He passed for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 touchdowns. It wasn’t always pretty, but Sanders showed some upside with his playmaking ability.
“I haven’t seen anyone else earn the right but him. And he hasn’t played enough or had enough chances to be on the football field. When he’s on the football field, they look and feel better,” Smith said. “The team believes differently. His energy is different. His swag is different. His level of confidence is different — notice I said confidence, nothing about arrogance.”
Despite a turbulent first year in the NFL, Sanders has handled himself well. Smith thinks Sanders has shown he is the right fit for the job and that his confidence is a tool the Browns need to harness.
“Forget what he looks like or how he walks. You want someone who is confident. Someone who says they’ll lead the organization and is willing to take on the pressure,” Smith said. “He manages all the questions that come his way like a professional.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Confident After Rookie Year
Confidence has never been an issue for Sanders, even after he slipped to the fifth round of the NFL Draft. After getting his first real taste of NFL action, the quarterback is convinced the flashes he showed are just the beginning.
“You can see it. It’s kind of like mastering how to get to that place all the time,” Sanders told Kay Adams earlier in the week. “You have flashes. That’s the most thing I appreciate about this year is that I proved to myself, I’m able to dominate the league. But I’m able to take completions, I’m able to put all of that together, and definitely in games, we have flashes, but I know I’m capable of doing that. Now, to do it on a consistent basis, that’s what the goal is. But for me in this past season, that’s what proved to myself. No matter what happened, no matter anything that transpired, you are able to go out there and compete.”
Sanders’ most notable competition is likely Watson, a former Pro Bowler who has Monken’s attention.
“You’ve got two young players who still have a long way to go in terms of development, and that’s just part of the learning curve in the NFL,” Monken said during an interview with Ashley Holder of Cleveland 19 News. “Then you have a player like Deshaun, who is coming back from injury and was once a Pro Bowl player and an elite player in this league. We would love to tap back into that.”
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