Mike Tannenbaum advocates for Shedeur Sanders to start for Cleveland Browns 'from snap one'

Shedeur Sanders suddenly has an uncertain future as a pro after seeing himself slide all the way to a sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Even so, he could now make the most sense as the Browns’ QB1, even as early as the opener in Cleveland.

On Friday, ‘Get Up’ debated whether or not Sanders would make any starts this season in the NFL. Mike Tannenbaum was certain he would, though, even saying he should take the first snaps and the snaps throughout 2025 in order for the franchise to best position itself come 2026.

“From snap one, day one, he absolutely should start for a number of reasons,” Tannenbaum said. “He should compete with Dillon Gabriel. I think he’s a better player. I don’t think it’s that close. And, at the end of the year, the Cleveland Browns need to know what they have in Shedeur Sanders because they’re going to have a top-five pick. They have Jacksonville’s first-round pick. If Jacksonville struggles, which I think they will? I do know, loaded quarterbacks in 2026. They need to know what their quarterback of the future looks like. Joe Flacco is a great backup and, at some point, trade Kenny Pickett.”

Sanders, as a rookie, is a question mark as to what he could be. His projections, at least pre-draft, were those of someone who could start and succeed for a team. But post-draft, it’s more of an uncertainty. Either way, with four quarterbacks on the roster, with none being a for sure answer for its future, Cleveland has to know something coming out of this season, especially with having two first round picks in a draft that should have several quarterbacks in its class in ’26.

Still, Dan Graziano was skeptical of Sanders starting, regardless of when. The Browns have a pair of veterans in the room as well as another rookie that they drafted two rounds and fifty picks ahead of him. That’s all he needs to know at the moment about what the depth chart looks like and where Sanders falls on it.

“I mean, look. Shedeur Sanders was picked two rounds after Dillon Gabriel. He’s fourth on their depth chart right now. I’m not saying it’s impossible for him to move up and then to get some starts. But, I don’t think the Browns are looking at it right now, on May 31st, the way that Mike T. says,” Graziano said. “I think, you know, first of all, they’re going to try to win games. If Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett gives them the best chance to win Week 1, I think that’s who will start. But, they liked Dillon Gabriel two rounds more than they liked Shedeur Sanders. I would think he’s got the chance to get the first look if they’re trying to figure out rookies that they need to learn things about this season.”

Tannenbaum got that perspective from Graziano. However, since Sanders and Gabriel are now there together, he doesn’t see the latter still beating the former out on the field over time despite likely outperforming him in the pre-draft process.

“What Graz is saying is very logical, which is Dillon Gabriel is a third-rounder and he should be the priority. But, look. When you put the pieces together, clearly, Dillon Gabriel impressed Cleveland in the pre-draft process and I’m sure they thought there’s no way Shedeur Sanders is going to be part of the mix for us once they decided to not take him in the first round. So, I think that was an opportunistic pick by the Browns,” Tannenbaum said. “If you go by what you see once they start playing? Shedeur Sanders led the nation in completion percentage. He’s a more talented quarterback, in my opinion and I think other’s. He’s going to have to prove it on the field but I think, if it was a fair fight on the field? I think Shedeur beats out Dillon Gabriel.”

Cleveland still has a lot to sort out at quarterback with the options currently on the roster between the vets and the rookies. Tannenbaum just thinks it solves more, in the present and future, by starting Sanders to start.

“Go see what Shedeur has. Then you can plan your future,” Tannenbaum said.