Hall of Famer Michael Irvin has spoken out in support of Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who has faced criticism during his transition from college football to the National Football League. The comments come after Sanders’ preseason performances drew mixed reactions from fans and analysts.
Sanders, selected in the fifth round of the 2025 National Football League Draft, drew attention for both promising plays and areas in need of improvement during the preseason. In his first outing against the Carolina Panthers, Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. However, he struggled against the Los Angeles Rams, holding onto the ball too long and being sacked five times.
Irvin addressed the negative opinions surrounding Sanders’ abilities as a rookie quarterback. “I don’t buy into people trying to cut into Shedeur because they said, ‘Oh, we saw some of things we saw at Colorado.’ [Heck] yeah, you saw some of the things you saw at Colorado. Shut up, saying stuff like that. What did you see at Colorado? You saw him running for his life at Colorado a lot, just like he did the other day. The difference is when he did get time at Colorado, he was considered one of the most accurate quarterbacks in college football. When you gave him time in that Carolina (preseason) game, he looked pretty good,” Irvin said.
Irvin added: “Hell yeah you saw some of the things from CU. When he did get time, he was the most accurate FB player in country. You are learning right now. You can’t control the entire game for the OL just yet” (…), with all statements attributed to Michael Irvin.
Sanders enters his first professional season behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel on Cleveland’s depth chart. His development is expected to be shaped more by practice than on-field play early on.
Despite falling to No. 5 round in this year’s draft due to questions about durability and decision-making, observers note that Sanders continues to display poise and mobility — qualities that attracted scouts during his college career.
The discussion around Sanders reflects broader challenges faced by rookie quarterbacks making the leap from college football to the professional level amid heightened expectations.
