You might think that not many people would pay attention to the 144th overall pick—a fifth-round selection. Well, not if that person is Shedeur Sanders. All eyes were on Sanders as he entered the Cleveland Browns’ rookie minicamp. Wearing a bright orange No. 12 jersey, Sanders shared reps with third-round pick Dillon Gabriel in both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. While Gabriel took the first reps, head coach Kevin Stefanski emphasized that the order of reps wouldn’t be a significant factor in evaluations. “We don’t pay too close attention to who’s in there first,” Stefanski explained, underscoring the Browns’ holistic approach to assessing their young quarterbacks.

Stefanski went on to praise Sanders’ early work ethic, noting, “You get to see what they can take from the meeting room to the grass.” After all, Sanders is out there to impress. His accurate short and intermediate throws and his ability to hit receivers in stride stood out—skills that have been a challenge for incumbent starter Deshaun Watson. Footage from the sessions showed Sanders working through progressions and executing timing routes with precision. Between drills, he spent time in the playbook with quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. “My job here isn’t to prove people wrong,” Sanders said. “It’s to prove myself right.”

So yes, Sanders is poised to make the most of his opportunity. With his reps maximized and his mindset locked in, the Browns have equipped him with everything he needs. On Thursday, the Browns shared a video of Sanders on their social media platforms, showing off his Nike Air DT Max ’96 sneakers, a team notebook, and his orange No. 12 practice jersey. “I got everything I need to be successful,” he said in the video with a wide grin on his face.

And y’all know who’s out there celebrating his moment even more than him.

Right after that went down, Shedeur’s dad, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, hopped up on his IG handle and shared a message for his son in the comment section, adding a bit of humor. “God is faithful! I know for a fact that smile is Genuine! Let’s go #2 I mean #12. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂,” Coach Prime wrote.

Before Colorado even hung up his No. 2 jersey for good, the Browns had already given that number to wide receiver DeAndre Carter, who signed earlier this year. So when it came time to assign Shedeur a number, they handed him No. 12 instead—the one safety Rodney McLeod wore last season. Now, Shedeur’s heading into rookie mini-camp rocking 12 on his back, which, yeah, feels like a quiet little nod to Tom Brady.

Shedeur Sanders set to make first impression

The Browns have started their rookie mini-camp on Friday, May 9th, which will run through Saturday. Alongside Shedeur Sanders, other draft picks are set to make a first impression, including defensive tackle Mason Graham, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, running back Quinshon Judkins, tight end Harold Fannin Jr., quarterback Dillon Gabriel, and running back Dylan Sampson (Tennessee).

However, considering Sanders and Gabriel have joined the Browns’ quarterback room, which includes veteran Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and injured Deshaun Watson, the question is rising: how many quarterbacks will Kevin Stefanski carry to his 53-man roster? Well, that’s the tricky part. Amidst Watson’s uncertainty to return ahead of the week 1 showdown, the Browns signed Flacco and traded for Pickett earlier this year.

Honestly? That’s where it gets pretty interesting. The Browns drafted Gabriel in the third round with the 94th overall pick before they picked Sanders. That means both the QBs will be fighting for playing time this summer. On the flip side of the spectrum, it’s almost certain that the Browns will start with Flacco in 2025.

To make it spicier, Pickett is out there stating that Cleveland will surely give him a chance to start this year. Too much tension! At the end of the day, it’s almost clear that Shedeur Sanders won’t start his rookie season. But we can assume that coach Stefanski might allow him to prove his worth at some point. We’ll find that out in a few months.