Shedeur Sanders has been on a roller coaster in 2025. From an unexpected 2025 Draft situation to becoming the starting quarterback for the Browns, it hasn't been easy. But when Sanders ended the game against the Raiders, he had one thing to say. "I’m who they’ve been looking for." Well, one ex-NBA star has joined the discussion and he agrees.

We're talking about Kendrick Perkins. The former Cavs star and NBA Champion is now a part of ESPN's broadcasting team. And this time, Perkins has a bold take on the Cleveland rookie. "Shedeur Sanders is the most powerful black man since 2009. You know what happened in 2009? That’s when President Obama got elected in office. He’s the most powerful black man since 2009."

Back in 2009, the year Barack Obama became the first African-American president was a historical moment, and Perkins believes Shedeur has a similar kind of pull today. How? Let's hear Perkins' explanation. "I ain’t run across one black person that said one bad thing about Shedeur. Not once. Because he has the balance. He has the balance of the ‘I’m arrogant, but I’m humble too.’ And he has some fun with this s***. He’s the most powerful black man in sports."

That blend of confidence and humility showed up when Shedeur made his first NFL start against the Raiders. He threw for 209 yards, had a touchdown, and helped the Browns win 24–10. After the game, he embodied the balance Perkins talked about.

"It’s amazing, you know, off of one week of practice. This is one week of practice. So, imagine what a full offseason would look like. It gets dangerous. But it’s just one week of practice, so I’m truly thankful that everything happened," said Shedeur Sanders.

That win also made him the first Browns rookie to win his debut start since 1995. Because of that performance, the Browns named him the starter again for Sunday’s game against the 49ers, replacing Dillon Gabriel as QB1.

What makes this moment even more meaningful is how rough his first NFL appearance was. Against the Ravens, he completed only 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and threw an interception. But now, he has a chance to show how quickly he can grow.

And that’s where everything leads to the simple question fans want answered: what will Shedeur Sanders do this Sunday? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Written by

Mohd Mudabbir Ansari

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar