Three-time Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest has explained why Shedeur Sanders has struggled to establish himself as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, arguing that the young signal-caller did not arrive in the NFL with the same pressure as a top draft pick.
Sanders has spent much of the current season watching from the sidelines as Deshaun Watson leads Cleveland under head coach Todd Monken.
The Browns have made a strong start with Watson at the helm, leaving Sanders facing questions about his future and growing speculation over a potential trade.
Willie McGinest says Shedeur Sanders must prove himself on the field
McGinest believes Sanders’ draft position played a role in the expectations placed on him when he entered the league.
Speaking about the Browns quarterback, the former New England Patriots linebacker said:
“Shedeur didn’t put the pressure on the position by coming into the league. I mean that by saying he wasn’t like a top pick. Now, if you’re a number one pick, if you’re a top 10 pick, then you put the pressure on the position right away.”
McGinest pointed to Russell Wilson as an example of a later-round pick who quickly forced his way into the starting conversation with the Seattle Seahawks.
He argued that Sanders had not yet produced the same evidence to convince Cleveland that he deserved the job.
“I know there’s a lot of hype and it’s the hype behind the name or the lineage where you come from or what you are actually doing on the football field. At some point, if he’s doing what he needs to do on the football field, he’ll get an opportunity,” McGinest added.
Sanders did start eight games for Cleveland last season after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion, throwing seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
His tendency to hold the ball for too long was also a concern, with his average time to throw reaching 3.24 seconds from his debut in Week 11, the highest figure in the NFL over that period.
Watson has since strengthened his position as Cleveland’s starter, helping the Browns build a 4-2 record across their first six games.
Sanders has also signed with Young Money APAA Sports for representation, a move that has fuelled speculation about his future.
However, The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones suggested a trade before the deadline would still be a surprise. Sanders now needs to make the most of his opportunities if he is to change the Browns’ thinking about his role.
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