Sports
Shedeur Sanders is already creating buzz in Cleveland. Despite being a fifth-round pick, the former Colorado quarterback has made an impression during Browns OTAs.
Reports suggest he’s performed better than third-rounder Dillon Gabriel, and his poise has drawn praise from the coaching staff. With a strong preseason, there’s growing speculation that Sanders could challenge for a starting role.
But not everyone is convinced that early exposure is the right move. Analyst Emmanuel Acho, speaking on The Facility, believes Cleveland would be making a serious mistake by starting Sanders in Week 1.
“Should Shedeur want to start Week 1? Obviously. 1000%. Anybody should want to start Week 1. But would starting Week 1 actually be a bad thing for Shedeur? 1000%,” Acho said.
His argument? Rushing quarterbacks onto the field often backfires, and the long game is where true development lies.
Andy Reid’s QB Model Suggests Slower Approach
To make his case, Acho pointed to Andy Reid‘s consistent strategy with rookie quarterbacks. Throughout his career, Reid has avoided handing the reins to first-year QBs out of the gate.
In 1999, he had Doug Pederson start before Donovan McNabb eventually took over. In 2017, Patrick Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith before becoming league MVP the following season.
“I never want my rookie quarterbacks to start right away. I never do,” Acho said, quoting Reid.
And the numbers back it up. Acho noted that the past eight NFL MVPs all share a common trait-they didn’t start in Week 1 of their rookie campaigns.
From Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes to Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, some of the league’s biggest stars were eased into action, giving them time to learn and develop.
“When you start Week 1, you’re not ready mentally. You’re probably not ready physically, and you’re definitely not ready emotionally,” Acho emphasized.
This historical context suggests the Browns may be better served letting Sanders develop behind veterans like Joe Flacco or even Gabriel.
Cleveland’s Quarterback Room Offers Flexibility
Currently, Sanders sits at QB4 on the Browns’ depth chart. The team still has Joe Flacco-fresh off a late-career resurgence-and two younger signal-callers in Gabriel and Skylar Thompson.
There’s no urgency to rush Sanders into action, especially when the surrounding division is stacked with veteran quarterbacks and playoff-ready defenses.
While players like Cam Newton and CJ Stroud found immediate success, their trajectories also underscore the risk.
Newton peaked early and faded, while Stroud‘s sophomore season is under close scrutiny. Acho addressed these exceptions but reinforced the broader point: long-term success often begins on the bench.
“All of the damage you incur in Week 1, you don’t get to just get rid of it, because it happened to you,” he added.
The Browns have an opportunity to break the cycle of rushing young quarterbacks. With Shedeur Sanders showing promise, the smarter move may be to protect that potential-not push it.
In a league where expectations can crush development, letting Sanders grow gradually might just give Cleveland the franchise quarterback they’ve long searched for.
This news was originally published on this post .
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