By Keaton Hargett
The NFL preseason just got a whole lot spicier, and it’s all because of one man: Shedeur Sanders, Member of the University of Colorado Football Ring of Honor. The kid who lit up Boulder like a Fourth of July fireworks show is now stepping into the Cleveland Browns’ spotlight, slated to start their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers this Friday. (All jokes aside, I do believe Shedeur Sanders is a good Quarterback.) Let me tell you, this is the kind of drama that makes you cancel your weekend plans and glue yourself to NFL Network at 7 p.m. ET. The Vegas line? It’s taken a nosedive from Browns (+0.5) to Browns (+6), and I’m here to break down why this game is must-watch TV for every football degenerate out there.
Let’s start with Shedeur. This isn’t just any rookie QB. This is a guy who threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns at Colorado, snagged the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and had his jersey retired by the Buffaloes before he even packed his bags for the NFL. But then, the draft happened. Oh, boy, did it happen. Projected as a top-five pick, Shedeur slid all the way to the fifth round, landing with the Browns at pick 144. Why? Some anonymous suits whispered about “entitlement” and bad interviews, but let’s be real—when you’re Deion Sanders’ kid, you’re gonna ruffle feathers. The Browns, though? They saw a steal, and now Shedeur’s got a chance to prove he’s not just Coach Prime’s son but a legit NFL star.
So why’s he starting Friday? Simple: the Browns’ QB room is a circus, and Shedeur’s the guy holding the ringmaster’s whip. Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are nursing hamstring injuries, and Joe Flacco, the 40-year-old Super Bowl MVP, is probably sipping coffee on the sideline, saving his arm for the regular season. That leaves Shedeur, the former Colorado Buffs legend, to take first-team reps in joint practices with the Panthers and start the game. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot says he’ll likely get the lion’s share of snaps, with Tyler Huntley as the backup. This is sink-or-swim time for Sanders, and he’s acting like he’s ready to doggy-paddle his way to QB1.
Now, let’s talk about this QB duel in Cleveland, because it’s juicier than a reality TV love triangle. You’ve got Kenny Pickett, the ex-Steeler who backed up a Super Bowl champ in Philly last year, trying to resurrect his career. Then there’s Joe Flacco, the grizzled vet who dragged the Browns to the playoffs in 2023. And don’t sleep on Dillon Gabriel, the third-round pick from Oregon who’s got scouts buzzing about his “well-rounded game.” But Shedeur? He’s the wildcard. Posts on X are going wild, with one anonymous Browns coach allegedly saying Sanders’ 9/9, two-touchdown practice was “special,” comparing him to what fans hoped Baker Mayfield would be. Sure, some X posts scream trade bait, but when Sanders gets on the field Friday, he’s got a shot to flip the script.
And then there’s the Vegas line. When it opened at Browns (+0.5), oddsmakers were basically saying, “Eh, this game’s a toss-up.” But now, with Sanders starting and Pickett and Gabriel on the mend, it’s Browns (+6). That’s a massive swing, folks. The market’s telling us the Panthers, who might play their starters, smell blood in the water. FanDuel’s got Flacco as the favorite to start Week 1 (+116), followed by Pickett (+220), Sanders (+370), and Gabriel (+830). But if Shedeur balls out Friday, those odds could flip faster than a TikTok trend. This game’s not just about pride—it’s an audition for Sanders to show the Browns’ front office (and maybe owner Jimmy Haslam, who wasn’t sold on drafting him) that he’s the future.
ATHLETES THIS IS FOR YOU, let’s give a shoutout to the folks shaking things up off the field. This article is brought to you by the First College Players Union, College Athletics Players Association (CAPA). They’re fighting for fair treatment and compensation for college athletes, ensuring the next generation of stars like Shedeur Sanders get what they deserve. Check them out at CollegeAthleticsPA.com and join the movement!
Look, the Browns have been a quarterback carousel since 1999—40 starters, and only Tim Couch and Baker Mayfield ever got a full season. Shedeur Sanders, with his Colorado swagger and Ring of Honor pedigree, could be the guy to break the cycle. Or he could flame out like so many before him. Either way, Friday’s game is his chance to show the NFL he’s more than a draft steal—he’s a damn star. Tune in, crack a beer, and watch Shedeur try to turn Cleveland into Believeland. You won’t want to miss this.