The Cleveland Browns might have Deshaun Watson as the presumed starter under center, but general manager Andrew Berry is making it clear that the quarterback room is far from settled. In a recent interview, Berry couldn't stop raving about the progress of second-year signal-caller Shedeur Sanders, calling his offseason growth nothing short of “phenomenal.”
Speaking on 92.3 The Fan, Berry detailed how Sanders has transformed since his rookie campaign. “The past 8-10 weeks — and really, probably beyond that, probably the past six months, with as a rookie player in particular a quarterback, you learn a lot your first year,” Berry explained. “And especially if you don’t start a full season … and you go through the year, adjustment going into the NFL, and then you get a chance to catch your breath and say, here are the things that we need to work on, here are the things I need to learn. And I think he did a phenomenal job this offseason.”
The GM’s enthusiasm echoes a sentiment not felt in Cleveland since the early days of Baker Mayfield. While Watson remains the favorite for the QB1 job, Sanders' surge is making the competition real. Berry emphasized that the work began long before spring practices. “That really started in January and February. And certainly as we got into having real practices in May, his growth has been tremendous,” he said. “So, we’re all very excited to see Shedeur’s fall camp, preseason, things of that nature when we get into padded situations, live situations, less scripted. But his growth has truly been phenomenal.”
Sanders showed flashes of promise as a rookie, though he also endured some growing pains. But the Browns' front office sees a player who has taken the lessons of Year 1 to heart and applied them with a vengeance. Head coach Todd Monken recently said he wasn't ready to name a starter, but early camp reports suggest Watson still holds the edge. Still, Sanders' focus on self-improvement rather than the QB battle has impressed the brass.
Berry’s praise isn’t just lip service. The GM pointed to specific areas where Sanders has leveled up. “I think he’s had an excellent spring. His growth has been tremendous, so we’re all really excited to see Shedeur’s fall camp, preseason when we get into live situations,” Berry repeated, driving home the point. The team’s excitement is palpable, reminiscent of the buzz that surrounded Mayfield when he took the league by storm as a rookie.
Of course, the Browns have a history of quarterback drama, but this feels different. The organization hasn’t had a young QB they could get this fired up about since Mayfield, and Sanders is giving them reason to believe. While some fans roasted Sanders after an embarrassing minicamp clip went viral, the team sees the bigger picture. Berry’s comments suggest the Browns are building for the long haul, and Sanders is a key piece of that puzzle.
As the summer progresses, all eyes will be on the quarterback battle in Cleveland. Watson may be the favorite, but Sanders is making it clear he won't go down without a fight. If his development continues at this pace, the Browns might have a tough decision on their hands come September.
