It's never a good feeling to be labeled the worst at your job, especially when you're a quarterback in the NFL. But that's exactly the reality Shedeur Sanders is facing as he prepares for his second season with the Cleveland Browns.
In The Athletic's annual quarterback tiers and rankings, based on anonymous polling of NFL coaches and executives, Sanders landed at No. 35 out of 35 qualified signal-callers. That's dead last, a harsh verdict for a player who was a Pro Bowler last year—though that honor came with an asterisk, as several other players declined the invite.
His rookie numbers tell a tough story: 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, ten interceptions, and a 56.6 percent completion rate. His 18.9 QBR ranks among the league's worst, and the criticisms from voters were blunt.
"He's inaccurate at all three levels," one executive said. "I can't tell if he is going to get better, but there's a huge gap between him and competent QB play."
Another coach was even more cutting: "I'd sleep like a baby if I got to play him every week."
But not everyone is ready to write him off. Some see a glimmer of hope in Cleveland's new offensive-minded head coach, Todd Monken, who previously worked wonders with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore.
"Todd Monken is a great reset in the same way Ben Johnson was a great reset in Chicago," one offensive coach said. "Shedeur gets a fresh start with a no-nonsense, offensive-oriented coach who did a really good job with Lamar Jackson."
The coach added: "If Shedeur has really invested in himself to be a professional quarterback, studying the playbook and knowing his assignments and being able to get the offense in and out of the huddle at an efficient clip, which he could not do last year, then there might be some upside."
That "fresh start" narrative is central to the Browns' offseason. Cleveland is holding an open quarterback competition, with Deshaun Watson also vying for the starting job. The team has added weapons on the perimeter and shored up the offensive line, giving whoever wins the job a better supporting cast.
Monken has made it clear that the decision won't be based on reputation or draft status. "Ultimately, I'm not going to decide who the starter is. They decide by their play. Their play decides who the starter is," he said. "I don't have any preconceived notions of how they've played in the past or how they're going to play. I only can, with my eyes, judge."
While Sanders' rookie struggles were real, it's worth remembering that he entered the league amid Deshaun Watson's training camp woes, which opened the door for him to start. Now, with a clean slate under Monken, Sanders has a chance to prove the doubters wrong—or confirm their fears.
The pressure is on, and the noise around him won't quiet down. As Joe Flacco's criticism of his visor showed, Sanders is a polarizing figure. But in the end, it's not about style; it's about results. And right now, the results have been ugly.
Can Sanders climb out of the basement? The NFL is full of second-year leaps, and Monken's track record offers hope. But the league's coaches and execs are skeptical, and the clock is ticking.
