Shedeur Sanders’ rookie journey with the Browns has hit turbulence. Once a top prospect, his preseason struggles and draft slide to the fifth round have raised questions about his role, with some, including former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, suggesting the team may not fully want him on the field.
Three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas On the Browns’ Decision To Start Joe Flacco
Former NBA star Arenas believes the Browns are setting Sanders up for failure, whether they realize it or not. He shared his perspective on an episode of The Arena, offering a theory that, while uncomfortable, makes a particular kind of sense.
“It’s built for him to fail because if he ends up winning the starting position, it tells you that their third-round quarterback pick was a stupid pick,” Arenas said.
“Which no one should be surprised by, because all their quarterback picks for the last 40 years have been stupid, right?” he continued.
“So, but it makes him feel like they got the wrong guy because then you’re questioning why didn’t you pick him earlier? So, they do not want him to start. They’re hoping he fails.”
“If he does perform well at some point in time, we can put him in. But they do not want him to be in front of Dillon, because then that means they were wrong here,” Arenas added bluntly.
It’s a bold stance that strikes at the heart of team dynamics. The idea of a franchise subtly rooting for a player to fail feels almost impossible, especially in a league where scouts, executives, coaches, and owners take pride in identifying talent at excellent value and celebrating it when late-round picks succeed.
Browns Unofficial Depth Chart
The Browns’ unofficial depth chart for Week 1 lists Joe Flacco as the starter, followed by Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, with practice squad QB Bailey Zappe behind them. Gabriel, a third-round pick, has been ahead of Sanders in reps and the pecking order all offseason.
While eyes will be on the rookies’ opportunities this season, Flacco will start against the Bengals, facing a high-powered offense led by Joe Burrow.
