Shedeur Sanders slips to fourth on Browns depth chart as critics say he's collapsing under pressure

Once touted as a surefire first-round pick, Shedeur Sanders now finds himself fighting for relevance on the Cleveland Browns roster. Despite an impressive college resume and an enormous social media following, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is sitting as the fourth-string quarterback heading into the 2025 season—and critics are not holding back.

From college star to NFL underdog: Shedeur Sanders’ steep fall surprises fans and analysts

Sanders’ fall in the NFL Draft shocked fans and analysts alike. He was projected to go shortly after Cam Ward but was ultimately passed over by 31 teams. Even the Browns, who eventually picked him in the fifth round, chose Oregon Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel two rounds earlier—making it clear Shedeur wasn’t the first choice, even within his own team.

Now, he's competing in a crowded quarterback room that includes seasoned veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, along with fellow rookie Gabriel.

According to team sources, the frontrunner for QB1 is Flacco, who led the Browns to the playoffs in 2023. Meanwhile, Sanders remains on the sidelines, raising questions about whether he can live up to the hype he once carried.

Lavish lifestyle clashes with underwhelming depth chart status

Off the field, Sanders continues to make headlines—not always for the right reasons. Fox Sports analyst Jason McIntyre didn’t mince words, saying, “Despite all the hype around Shedeur, he's the only Browns quarterback not training with the first team.

The guy's motto is 'Be Legendary.' He's throwing these extremely lavish NFL Draft parties. And he's fourth on the depth chart—without a doubt."

The criticism isn’t just about performance; it’s about perception. Many are questioning Sanders’ commitment and focus, especially when his off-field activities seem to overshadow his current on-field struggles.Sanders isn’t without credentials. He led all Big 12 quarterbacks in completion percentage (74%) and threw for over 4,100 yards with 37 touchdowns at Colorado.

Those stats earned him national recognition, but they haven’t translated into a strong NFL start—at least not yet.Also Read: $750K gone! Lamar Jackson’s bold OTA decision leads to major financial hit — is there more to the story?Supporters argue he just needs time to develop, especially in a system with experienced players ahead of him. But in a league where scrutiny is relentless, Shedeur Sanders will need more than numbers and a famous name. He’ll need to silence critics the old-fashioned way—through performance, patience, and persistence.