BEREA, Ohio — Chedure Sanders isn’t concerned about the limited practice reps he’s received as he competes in the Cleveland Browns’ four-way quarterback battle during training camp. Despite being regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders slipped to the fifth round, ending up as the 144th overall pick. Currently, he seems to be the fourth quarterback on the depth chart behind veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, along with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who was selected in the third round.
Sanders is the only quarterback in the offseason program who hasn’t yet taken first-team reps during the initial two practices of training camp. “I don’t think it’s my place to answer why,” Sanders said on Friday. “That’s out of my hands, so I don’t spend time thinking about it. A lot of people want a chance to play at this level, and I’m here.”
He added, “I don’t get discouraged or count myself out because I know who I am as a person and what this team is capable of.”
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski noted that their quarterback rotation has been flexible during the first week of camp and will be reassessed heading into week two. On Wednesday, Kenny Pickett took all first-team snaps in an 11-on-11 drill, while Pickett and Joe Flacco shared first-team reps in a team drill. By Friday, Flacco, Pickett, and Gabriel split first-team reps, with Sanders mostly working with the third-team offense, although he participated once with the second team during the 11-on-11 drill.
Quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave said Friday, “I don’t expect any earth-shattering changes next week. It looks like it will mostly stay consistent. All four quarterbacks have made strong progress.”
Due to the crowded receiver room and the need to spread out reps, Sanders practiced throwing to equipment staff during some individual drills. He insisted that this didn’t affect his mindset. “That doesn’t bother me,” said Sanders, son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. “We’ve come from an HBCU to the Power 5, and now we’re here. So at this point, there’s no challenge I won’t face.”
Sanders also addressed two offseason speeding tickets he received in Cleveland with a lighthearted note: “Everyone learns from my situation and doesn’t speed at all.”
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Fan Take: Sanders’ journey from a high-profile draft prospect to fighting for snaps highlights the unpredictable nature of NFL careers, reminding fans that talent must be paired with persistence and opportunity. How he handles this challenge could inspire future players from smaller programs and add an intriguing storyline to the Browns’ quarterback race this season.
