Shedeur Sanders ‘not content’ with Browns situation as $87million receiver opens up on relationship

Shedeur Sanders has finally achieved his goal of cementing his place as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback.

The 23-year-old’s NFL career got off to a rocky start, suffering an all-time draft slide down to the fifth-round and having to work his way up from being fourth on the depth chart.

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After making three consecutive starts, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Sunday that Sanders would be his QB1 for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Despite suffering a 31-29 defeat to fellow rookie quarterback Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans, Sanders had the best performance of his young career, firing 364 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air, also adding one rushing score, along with one interception.

There was an opportunity late in the fourth for the Browns to tie, but Sanders was off the field when they ran a botched two-point conversion attempt, which drew much criticism aimed towards Stefanski.

But the bigger picture is that for former first-round pick Jerry Jeudy, who now knows who will be passing balls to him for the rest of the season.

The six-year pro has caught balls from 14 quarterbacks in his career, with Sanders being the latest addition to that number, and is finally someone Jeudy can build a connection with.

“It’s good to have just one guy you can build a chemistry with,” Jeudy told the media on Wednesday.

“Shedeur gonna finish out the season, so it’s a good time to just build and consistently learn and build together. Week by week he is consistently growing and doing his thing. So kudos to him.”

Jeudy has never had consistency in his career

Having started his career out with the Denver Broncos, since being traded to the Browns in March 2024, Jeudy has played with seven quarterbacks under center.

In the 2024 season – his first in Cleveland – the quarterback carousel was in full swing with $230 million Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Jameis Winston and Bailey Zappe all featuring in at least one game.

Despite the high turnover among his signal callers, Jeudy – who has $87 million in career earnings so far – still recorded a career-high 1,229 yards on 90 catches, which also set a Browns franchise record.

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In 2025, he started the season with veteran Joe Flacco – who was then traded mid-season – before linking up with rookie Dillon Gabriel and then Sanders as he impressed during his first few starts following a concussion to the former Oregon QB.

The 26-year-old’s connection with the former Colorado Buffaloes superstar, and son of Buffs HC and NFL icon Deion Sanders, started out rocky, with the two seen getting into it on the sideline in the Browns’ 28-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

But with that situation quickly resolved, the two then answered the call and connected for a 60-yard touchdown in the third quarter against the Titans, where they shared an embrace in the end zone.

Sanders is living in the moment

Now, all attention turns to the Browns’ clash against the 9-4 Chicago Bears, with sub-zero wind chill temperatures expected, with the potential for it being one of the coldest games on record at Soldier Field.

Despite being named the starter for the remainder of the season, Sanders has admitted he is ‘not content’ as his NFL future beyond the 2025 campaign is still very much uncertain.

“That’s not in my focus [thinking about his future],” Sanders said. “My focus right now is the team we’re playing ahead, the Bears. So anything past that I’m not really focused on, honestly. I’m thankful for it, but I’m not content with my situation with everything.”

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But for now, at least, Sanders is doing everything possible to stay in the moment.

“This is my life here…” Sanders added. “I got to focus on playing my best and being the best player I can for the team…

“I just go here, enjoy my day, work hard, do everything I can. If I’m here, I’m here. If I’m not, I’m not. It’s nothing in my control.

“I try to control what I can control — going out there, making the right reads. Going out there, doing the right things, being the person I am and things will fall how they’re supposed to.”

But the Browns rookie has impressed Stefanski since taking over the starting job from Gabriel, with his improvement week-upon-week and his dedication to honing his craft as an NFL quarterback translating into his performances on game day.

“In terms of a light turning on, those type of things, I just think he’s committed to getting better every single week,” Stefanski said. “And that’s what you want.”

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