hedeur Sanders will make his first NFL start Sunday when the Cleveland Browns visit the Las Vegas Raiders, with starter Dillon Gabriel remaining in concussion protocol. The fifth-round pick made his NFL debut in the second half of Cleveland\'s 23-16 loss to Baltimore last week.
Sanders, selected 144th overall in the 2025 draft, fell to Day 3 despite being rated the top quarterback prospect by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. The Browns traded up to select him with their seventh and final pick in the fifth round.
Cleveland has been pleased with Sanders\' work ethic and locker room presence, but the transition to the NFL has been challenging. The Browns have compared the adjustment to learning a new language, with Sanders still developing his fluency after two-plus months.
The team believes Sanders has the arm talent to make plays at the NFL level. His biggest issue remains taking too many sacks rather than turnovers, despite struggles against Baltimore.
Cleveland plans to design specific throws and plays to protect Sanders from pressure. The coaching staff aims to minimize situations where the rookie must hold the ball too long.
Sanders\' development timeline accelerated with Gabriel\'s injury. The Browns view this as an opportunity to evaluate their fifth-round investment in live game action against Las Vegas.
Via ESPN