The moment Shedeur Sanders’ shocking draft slide to the fifth round came to an end, thanks to the Cleveland Browns, he may have found the opportunity he yearned for. When none of the franchises were willing to take Shedeur, the Browns gave him his new NFL home. They seemingly ignored all the negative connotations surrounding Sanders by taking him with their 144th pick. Given that he has revolutionized two college programs with his dad, Deion Sanders, Shedeur is expected to work a similar magic in Cleveland. However, for now, he might have to wait a bit longer as the Browns are predicted to do something that won’t please Sanders.

Shedeur came into a QB room that already had 4 potential starters ahead of him. Deshaun Watson is still recovering from his ACL injury. Though his return date is hard to predict, Watson could still have a point to prove once he does come back. Whether he would be allowed to start, that’s a different question given his past performances. Then there’s Kenny Pickett, fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Eagles. Considering he was once a first-round pick, Pickett also would like to turn around his NFL career in Cleveland.

Dillon Gabriel, taken 94th overall before Sanders, was projected to be the future of the Browns. But since the arrival of Sanders, the chances of him starting over the Colorado superstar QB look bleak. So, the only one that remains is former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. His veteran presence and hugely successful first stint as Browns QB may have given him the edge over Sanders. Rumors suggest Flacco is predicted to be QB1 heading into camp. And most importantly, it’s his job to lose with Sanders breathing on his shoulder.

Well, those rumors are backed by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. In his guest appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Breer said Flacco is in “pole position” to take the first snaps in the spring. The 40-year-old spent his last season with the Colts—now he is back for a second stint with the Browns. The last time Flacco started for the Dawg Pound, he led them to a playoff berth. His incredible late-season heroics saw him crowned the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

So, compared to his competitors for the starting job in Cleveland, Flacco outshines everyone of them. Maybe that could have prompted the Browns to rally behind Flacco. To be honest, this decision by the Browns might actually help Sanders more than anyone. Given that Sanders has a chip on his shoulder to prove everyone wrong, Flacco could guide him until Deion’s son eventually takes over.

Can Shedeur Sanders outsmart his draft position?

“I’m a Sanders. So, it’s always going to be expectations regardless of what pick I am,” Sanders said after the Browns picked him in the fifth round. If Sanders really wants to be successful in Cleveland, he will have to match Cowboys QB Dak Prescott’s accomplishment. In the past 15 years, only Prescott has managed to turn a day 3 draft slot into a franchise QB status—we can add Brock Purdy to that potentially. Not only that, Sanders will have to do something that only 4 men before him have achieved. Since 1967, the NFL has only witnessed 4 QBs nail down a starting spot after getting picked in the fifth round or later.

Now, to draft Sanders, the Browns even traded their 166th and 192nd picks to move up to 144th and select him. Later, their general manager, Andrew Berry, even stated, “Sanders is a guy that we think can outproduce his draft slot.” Obviously, there’s no doubt Sanders has all the traits to be a franchise QB in the NFL. In his final college season, Sanders led the FBS in pass completion percentage (74%). His 6.5% off-target rate was the third-lowest among all the other QBs.

He also completed 54% of his passes that traveled beyond 10 air yards. Well, his passing capability ain’t the only thing that stood out for him. Sanders protected the football with all his might, even if it meant taking the highest number of sacks in FBS. Last season, he recorded just a 2.1% interception rate—ranked 36th among 124 qualified FBS QBs.

So, the Browns may stick with Flacco for now. But there’s absolutely no doubt Sanders will eventually take over. And once he does, only time will tell whether the Browns were right in giving him an opportunity when others didn’t.