Browns' Shedeur Sanders starting at QB in Week 1 depends on a key Dak Prescott stat

Shedeur Sanders really only has one place in the NFL he can look for specific inspiration, at least by one measure.

There has been only one Day 3 quarterback draft pick who started Week 1 for his team in the past 15 years, per ESPN.

That was Dak Prescott, a fourth-round Cowboys draft pick in 2016.

Prescott was helped by injuries to Tony Romo and Kellen Moore to give him the job. He won 13 games that season and Rookie of the Year.

Sanders went even later than Prescott, at No. 144 overall in the fifth round.

ESPN shared that only four fifth-round QBs have started their team's Week 1 game as rookies: Tampa Bay's Randy Hedberg in 1977, Buffalo's James Harris in 1969, Buffalo's Dan Darragh in 1968 and Cincinnati's Dewey Warren in 1968.

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Apparently, it used to not be that rare. But it hasn't happened in nearly half a century.

Of course, Sanders starting in Week 1 isn't the only way his success will be gauged.

He'll want to have a long-lasting career, not just a flash in the pan with an early start or two.

If he turns into Prescott, the Browns will certainly be happy about it.

In the meantime, Sanders has a few months to make his best first impression in Cleveland.

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