If there’s one thing Shedeur Sanders doesn’t lack, it’s good ‘ol confidence. Whether it’s through his unprecedented draft slide or the myriad of reports signaling toward the worst possible future with the Cleveland Browns, the quarterback has always made sure he’s stacked with self-belief. “Really I feel like the Browns fans, they just want something to hope for. They’ve been wanting that for so long. I’m here to change that, I’m here to actually give what they want,” Shedeur had said barely three months back. And he backed up his promise during the OTAs, too. Yet, looks like nothing will ever be enough.

The former Colorado Buffaloes player is now caught in the midst of a QB battle with no guarantees. When Browns rookies report on July 18, Sanders and fellow draft pick Dillon Gabriel will face off against veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, to fill the massive void left by Deshaun Watson, Cleveland’s $230 million QB, currently sidelined with an Achilles injury. With Flacco predicted to be the starting quarterback next season, Browns insiders have been quietly buzzing about an unexpected shift—fifth-round pick Dillon Gabriel isn’t just competing with Shedeur anymore, he might be leaving him behind.

“Dillon Gabriel has earned the trust of head coach Kevin Stefanski. And has everything needed not only to surpass Shedeur, but to seriously compete with veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett as well. His superpower in the competition is his computer-like processing speed and decision-making,” Mary Kay Cabot’s report mentioned. And then there was FS1 analyst Emmanuel Acho who said, “The reality for Shedeur Sanders is this: As a 5th round pick, it rarely matters how talented you are, you may never even get the opportunity to win the starting job. Sometimes as a 5th, 6th, 7th round pick, they are already cutting you. You are a camp body, you are there for training camp.” Now, that’s got to sting. But wait till you hear what former Pro Bowl wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh had to say.

“I was told from somebody that’s in the building, that ain’t a player, it’s really coming down to Kenny Pickett or Dillon Gabriel. That’s what I was told,” he said without the slightest bit of sugarcoating. But as the drama hits its peak, Shedeur has fired back. And all it took were three words. “time will tell 🤫”, he tweeted on July 13. That cryptic “time will tell” tweet from Shedeur Sanders suddenly makes perfect sense. Shedeur is clearly not willing to answer anyone through words. 

But this isn’t just about a rookie QB battle. It’s about Kevin Stefanski’s long-term plans quietly unraveling. While Shedeur and Gabriel fight for scraps behind Flacco and Pickett, the Browns’ front office might already be plotting their escape route.

Shedeur Sanders on thin ice in Cleveland?

The real story isn’t playing out on the practice field. It’s in the war rooms where Kevin Stefanski and the Browns’ brass are weighing their options. If neither rookie shows enough promise by season’s end, the Browns might have their eyes on a nuclear option: South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers.

Pro Football & Sports Network’s Mark Stolte spelled it out bluntly. “The Cleveland Browns are taking a gamble here on LaNorris Sellers. With all his faults, Sellers still ranked 82nd of 156 in adjusted completion percentage at 74.6%. Something neither Josh Allen nor Anthony Richardson even came close to hitting as full-time starters.” The numbers don’t lie. Last season, the 6’3″, 240-pound Sellers put up 2,520 passing yards, 18TDs, plus another 674 rushing yards and 7 scores on the ground.

Stolte isn’t just speculating, he’s connecting the dots. “With a more accurate starting point and that same freak athleticism, the Browns can risk it for the biscuit with a potentially franchise-changing pick.” This isn’t some late-round flier; Cleveland could grab Sellers with the No. 2 overall pick in 2026. The QB checks every physical box: cannon arm, quick release, and the ability to shrug off linebackers like gnats. Sure, he needs to work on reading defenses. But so did Josh Allen at this stage.

Sellers could stay in school if he balls out in 2025, but if he declares? Cleveland’s entire QB strategy could get overhauled overnight.