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Quarterback development rarely hinges on the splashy stuff. For Shedeur Sanders, the difference this offseason traces back to something less visible than arm strength or scrambling: the way he sets his feet.
That mechanical reset, more than any single throw, explains why every layer of the Cleveland Browns organization keeps talking him up as their starting job stays open.
General manager Andrew Berry added to the chorus Friday morning during an appearance on a Cleveland radio station.
"I think he's [Sanders] has an excellent spring," Berry said. "His growth has been tremendous, so we're all really excited to see Shedeur's fall camp,...His growth has really been phenomenal."
His remarks followed similar comments from quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian after a recent practice.
"He's done a great job," Bajakian said. "He is working his bu*t off to really master his craft, and it's been fun to watch."
Heading into year two, Sanders has far more allies inside the building than he did as a rookie. Berry, new head coach Todd Monken, and now Bajakian all sit firmly in his camp. That marks a sharp turn from last season under Kevin Stefanski, when the franchise steered him down a developmental route many questioned.
Why the Browns suddenly see Sanders differently this spring
The praise doesn't align with the actual rep counts. Sanders trails Deshaun Watson in the competition, and the OTA numbers tilt toward the veteran.
On June 11, ESPN Cleveland posted team-drill results showing Sanders at 10/13 with no touchdowns and no interceptions during mandatory camp No. 3. Watson went 14/18 with two scores. Even Dillon Gabriel, whose name keeps surfacing in trade chatter, hit 5/6 and tossed a touchdown.
So the optimism is not about the box score. It is about the flaw Cleveland believes Sanders has corrected. The 24-year-old sat for the opening 10 weeks of 2025 before stepping in after Gabriel's concussion.
He flashed real upside, including a four-touchdown showing in Week 14 during a 13-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, yet rushed throws kept dragging him down. Tony Romo, the former Cowboys quarterback, did not soften it.
"Shedeur knows he wants that one back," Romo said. "That's as poor a decision as he's made in his young career. He's young, but you can't just throw it up for grabs."
Monken sees that habit fading. "I just think he's doing a better job, I think he's being more decisive," he said, via Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan. He stressed the ball needs to leave Sanders' hand on time.
Sanders was sacked 23 times in 2025 and finished with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, plus 169 rushing yards on 21 carries.
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