Comparison is not only the thief of joy; it also blurs Shedeur Sanders' perspective. Still caught up in a starting quarterback competition, the Cleveland Browns starter is heading into this season guided by his strong principles.

“Sometimes when not everybody has the same perspective and sees things how you see it, because you seeing success is a disconnect,” the 24-year-old said. “That’s where you lose in life: comparison. When I compare my situation in life or anything, or even in football to somebody else’s, then at that point I would never be happy.”

Sanders made his point in a vlog on posted on his YouTube channel. Last week, he went hiking in Colorado, enjoying the days before the competition picks in training camp once again. Sanders’ career is at a precarious point.

He has been fighting for the QB 1 role since his rookie season, but this time he is surrounded by trade talk, too.

The former Colorado star is up against a veteran: Deshaun Watson. Traded in 2022, the 30-year-old is returning to play in his final season with the Browns. Since October 2024, Watson was sidelined because of an Achilles tendon injury. 

Now, fully recovered and cleared to play, Watson's athleticism, what head coach Todd Monken calls his "super powers", has made him a formidable competitor. Previously, he even had the lead in the QB 1 race, but Sanders closed the gap by the time OTAs came to an end. 

“I think Shedeur has come miles in terms of his progressions, getting the ball out, his understanding of concepts,” Monken said about Sanders’ progress.

Sanders' 2025 campaign, 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, showed growth but also inconsistency. He’s spent this offseason improving himself, sticking to his philosophy. 

“I’m not content just being on no team, you feel me? Like I’m trying to get it right. I’m trying to be one of the greatest. You got to be thankful, but no, it’s still more,” he said.

Will this season under Monken be the change Sanders has been watching out for?

Browns expert believes Shedeur Sanders can run Todd Monken’s schemes

Before taking on the head coach role at the Cleveland Browns, Todd Monken worked with Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP and dual-threat quarterback. Deshaun Watson, athletic and experienced, poses a threat to Shedeur Sanders’ campaign. 

That leaves the experts guessing whether Sanders is enough to be trusted with the starter role.

“I think he can,” Mary Kay Cabot said per Cleveland.com. “Not, of course, to the extent of your traditional two-play quarterbacks or your dual-threat quarterbacks, because that’s not who he is or what he is. But he’s got a lot of moxie, he’s got a lot of guts. He will stand in against the rush and then slip away from it.” 

Sanders is marching on, focused on his goals, and experts believe he stands a chance. How will he fare this season? Tell us in the comments. 

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Akanksha Biradar