ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. isn't afraid to offer his opinion on Shedeur Sanders, that's for sure.
As Sanders was sliding down the board during the 2025 NFL Draft, Kiper ripped all 32 teams for letting his top-rated quarterback fall to the fifth round. Before the Colorado product was officially selected, he fired off this blunt message on national television: "The NFL has been clueless for 50 years when it comes to evaluating quarterbacks."
Sanders appeared in eight games for the Browns this past season, completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. It was an inconsistent rookie campaign to say the least.
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During the latest edition of "ESPN First Draft," Field Yates simply mentioned the Browns as a potential suitor for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. They currently own the No. 6 and No. 24 overall picks in the upcoming draft.
Immediately after Yates mentioned Cleveland as a possible landing spot for Simpson, he received a stern warning from Kiper.
"The Browns don't have to worry about Ty Simpson. They got a better quarterback in Shedeur Sanders than Ty Simpson," Kiper told Yates. "Don't go there."
Clearly, Kiper isn't ready to give up on Sanders. For what it's worth though, Simpson did have an excellent 2025 season at Alabama. He finished the year with 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Is Shedeur the guaranteed starter for Cleveland?
Haslam Sports Group partner JW Johnson has already said that Cleveland will host a quarterback battle in training camp this summer.
“Nobody is getting handed the keys to the car today,” Johnson said. “They’re going to come in and compete. Deshaun is coming off a major injury. He’s done well and has battled back. It’s nice to see him back. … Shedeur and Dillon had ups and downs during their rookie years. Now with a new head coach, let’s see how they come in, compete and understand the offense. I think it’s open competition and we are excited about it.”
Could Sanders win this battle in camp? Absolutely, but it won't be easy. He'll need to prove he's a significantly better option than Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson.
Of course, the Browns could make things even more complicated for Sanders by drafting another quarterback this April. However, that move would probably set Kiper off.
