"It sounds crazy to me": Chase Daniel uses NFL history to outline Shedeur Sanders’ starting odds

Shedeur Sanders and the rest of the Cleveland Browns QBs are competing for the chance to start in Week 1 of the 2025 season. Sanders, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel are all present at OTAs as they attempt to convince Kevin Stefanski of their suitability to lead the franchise in the absence of incumbent QB1 Deshaun Watson.

With each shot caller getting the chance to impress, former NFL career backup QB Chase Daniel is paying close attention to Shedeur Sanders. Speaking on "The Facility," Daniel used the history of the NFL to outline Sanders' starting odds.

The one-time Super Bowl winner said,

"For me, I do not like Shedeur Sanders’ chances to start week 1. He hasn't even taken any first team reps yet, it's June 5th now."

Daniel continued:

"If we have this conversation in training camp and after two or three preseason games, and he clearly had a preseason like Dak Prescott did in 2016, or he's played some stuff on the field, yeah we can talk about it. The reason I don't like Shedeur Sanders to start week 1 because it sounds crazy to me."

He concluded by saying:

"We did some stat checking, and it is crazy because history would tell you there's only one quarterback in the history of the NFL to be drafted in the fifth round or later and start week one as a rookie… Randy Hedberg in 1977."

While Chase Daniel has a point regarding the odds of Sanders being a Week 1 starter, it's important to note the unique circumstances in Cleveland entering 2025. The Browns have quite the QB carousel with none of the current QB1 options being on the roster in 2024.

That means that every player has a decent shot at starting on Day 1, especially considering that there's still training camp and preseason to go before Stefanski potentially makes his decision.

What are Shedeur Sanders' odds of starting in Week 1?

According to Sports Illustrated, Shedeur Sanders has +300 odds to be the Cleveland Browns' QB1 in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL regular season. The Colorado Buffaloes product has better odds than Dillon Gabriel (+750) and Deshaun Watson (+2000).

However, Kenny Pickett (+100) and Joe Flacco (+250) are the locked-in favorites to lineup as starting quarterbacks against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Shedeur Sanders is fresh off a surprising slide in the 2025 draft that saw him off the board as the 144th pick. The Cleveland Browns sensed an opportunity and opted to select him despite drafting Dillon Gabriel two rounds before with the 94th pick. That means the Browns have four quarterbacks (and Deshaun Watson) vying for the starting role.

Kevin Stefanski will look to spur his side to success in 2025 after a deeply disappointing 2024 regular season. It all starts with a game against the Bengals, and a win would do wonders for team morale.