Shedeur Sanders Faces an Uphill Battle in Cleveland

Shedeur Sanders Faces an Uphill Battle in Cleveland, Says ESPN Analyst

The Cleveland Browns are heading into the 2025 season with more questions than answers at quarterback. Four players are currently vying for the starting spot, but it’s rookie Shedeur Sanders who’s caught in the storm of speculation — and not in a good way.

ESPN’s Louis Riddick didn’t hold back when assessing the rookie’s situation during Wednesday’s Get Up. He warned that Sanders might be walking into a fractured front office dynamic that could impact his chances before he even steps on the field.

“What it tells me is that this young man is ice skating uphill,” Riddick said. “Because they are not in lockstep as far as how they view him within that organization.”

The controversy started when Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters that the decision to draft Sanders was made entirely by GM Andrew Berry. Some took that as Haslam distancing himself from the pick in case Sanders doesn’t pan out.

Riddick pointed out how that kind of statement can create doubt. If everyone in the building was sold on Sanders, why make the clarification at all?

“If I’m Sanders,” Riddick said, “I’m thinking, am I really at the right place here? Do I have people who want me to succeed?”

That’s not the kind of atmosphere any rookie quarterback wants to step into. Sanders already has enough on his plate, battling for snaps in a crowded room and dealing with media scrutiny that comes with his high-profile background. Now, it appears he may also have to fight for belief within his own organization.

Whether Shedeur Sanders can rise above the noise and claim the QB1 role remains to be seen. But as of now, it looks like the deck isn’t stacked entirely in his favor.

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