The Cleveland Browns decided to move Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders earlier in the week, a trade that needed to happen. Having four quarterbacks on the Browns‘ active roster never made much sense, despite Kevin Stefanski and others saying it was a possibility.
While the Browns moved on from Pickett, they went out and signed Bailey Zappe to a deal on Wednesday. Zappe will be on the practice squad, which shouldn’t impact Shedeur Sanders much, but James Brizuela doesn’t believe that will be the case. Brizuela wrote an article on Wednesday, stating that the latest signing is “bad news” for Sanders.
Considering the Browns stated they would take four quarterbacks into the regular season, that appears to ring true. To be fair, Zappe is only the practice squad quarterback for now, but he could find himself as the third-stringer in the coming weeks.
“Sanders might be viewed as a developmental quarterback who could serve as the practice squad option, while Zappe jumps into the third slot on the depth chart. This is just speculation, but the veteran has more experience that would favor this decision,” he wrote.
Will Browns QB Shedeur Sanders See the Field?
It isn’t unfair to suggest that any signing to add to the Cleveland Browns quarterback room is bad news for Sanders. Since he’s the third-string quarterback, Sanders has a long way to go before making an impact at the highest level. However, with how old Joe Flacco is and questions about Kenny Pickett in the NFL, Sanders may get a chance.
At least from the outside looking in on the situation, Sanders could eventually get an opportunity. Despite that, Louis Riddick of ESPN doesn’t believe that.
Not without injury and/or some kind of severe underperformance on the part of Joe Flacco and then Dillon Gabriel,” Riddick said, per NJ.com. “I just don’t see it. I mean, it’s unfortunate for everyone who was a Shedeur Sanders fan and feels as though he was someone who was drafted below what ultimately his skill level represented in college. But that’s just the way it goes…
“The preseason has played itself out now. Joe Flacco is No. 1. Dillon Gabriel, when he got his opportunities, really did show that he is deserving of being a backup quarterback that potentially could ascend to become a starter.
Shedeur Sanders Faces a Major Hurdle
Sanders impressed in the Cleveland Browns‘ first preseason game of the year, before dealing with an injury and missing the second. He played in the third game but took five sacks and displayed many of the same flaws he showed in college.
Nonetheless, Sanders has much to work on, which is true for most rookies. He may get a chance if he does what he needs to do.
Akili Smith seems to think so, stating that while it’ll be tough, he must work hard.
“It’s going to be hard. Very hard,” Smith told Andscape. “Just where he’s at now, and the things he needs to work on … it’s a lot. If he stays positive and works hard, he still has a chance. But the tape is clear as day.”
Browns Latest Signing Tabbed ‘Bad News’ for Shedeur Sanders