It’s been a while Shedeur Sanders made an appearance on his show after that viral draft slide. Just a couple of weeks ago, folks were buzzing about how he went from being a college star to waiting way longer than expected to hear his name called. So, going to Cleveland as the No. 144 overall pick, you’ve got to wonder, how’s he holding up? “It hasn’t really been no downs,” the former Colorado QB said. “It been positive like you only feel down when you lose but I feel like I never lost.” So yeah, no sitting around pouting. That’s not the way this guy is wired. But there’s still the spirit of stiff competition lurking. 

So what’s life like for Shedeur Sanders in the city now? Let’s just say it’s not exactly Instagram flicks and glitz. Shedeur’s Cleveland debut was celebrated by their NBA star Donovan Mitchell. “Welcome to the Land💯 @ShedeurSanders,” the basketball player tweeted. Now, on the new May 9 episode of 2Legendary with Shedeur Sanders, Shedeur was asked if he had a chance to link up with Donovan Mitchell yet. He said:

“No, I haven’t got to speak to him bro. When I tell you I just been isolated, working out, treatment like back to work at night, you know, like – try to get in a steam room, get in the sun, like do something to get you tired just so you get tired and in the morning you wake up, work out again. So it’s like cycles.” That’s the grind mentality. 

“I want to get out here early and I would say be comfortable in the city,” Shedeur Sanders added. “I didn’t want to come out here, go somewhere and come back out here and then not be comfortable where I am.” And even as he’s settling into Cleveland, he’s also turning heads already. You could tell the second he stepped into the Browns facility on Thursday, he was here to make history. At rookie minicamp, he showed up right on time to show he’s about business. 

On his first day, Shedeur Sanders wasn’t taking all the QB reps on team drills and 7-on-7s because it went to former Oregon’s QB Dillon Gabriel too. But he made the most of his snaps. He ended a 2-hour, 20-minute session by completing dozens of passes. Red zone dots to receivers Kisean Johnson and Ja’Seem Reed. Multiple deep balls to TE Harold Fannin Jr. and RB Quinshon Judkins. And after all that, he even stayed back for extra reps with tryout receiver Jabre Barber. “I got everything I need to be successful,” he told the Browns media team. For now, Shedeur may not be the first in line, but that doesn’t mean much yet. 

Kevin Stefanski on Shedeur Sanders vs. Dillon Gabriel QB battle

When the Browns broke the huddle, it was Dillon Gabriel who took the first snap under center. But that doesn’t mean Shedeur Sanders is left in the dust. HC Kevin Stefanski wasn’t about to let anyone overreact. “I wouldn’t look into, really, anything,” he said after the minicamp. “I think you’ll see the whole weekend, going through the spring, we don’t pay too close attention to who’s in there first.” So you see, it’s an open competition.

Stefanski made it clear that this competition is just getting started, with tons of reps to go around and no depth chart set in stone. Shedeur Sanders and Gabriel split throws in drills and 11-on-11s, each flashing early potential. “They were as advertised,” the HC beamed. “There’s plenty of reps. There’s a lot of time between now and September, so we’ll have a plan. But it’s an all-encompassing evaluation.”

It’s Day 1. Nobody’s winning or losing a job in May. The staff is locked in on the little things — timing, footwork, and decision-making. And Shedeur Sanders’ got time, reps, and a whole lot of drive. This thing’s far from over.