"It will be exposed" - NFL insider rips Saints for drafting Tyler Shough over Shedeur Sanders after Browns rookie QB's surgical performance

Robert Littal of Black Sports Online has joined the ongoing online frenzy following Shedeur Sanders’ incredible performance in his preseason debut for the Cleveland Browns. Littal criticized NFL teams for passing on Sanders in the draft, particularly picking out the New Orleans Saints.

In a post that has garnered more than 60,000 views on X in barely over 12 hours, the journalist wrote:

“Like I still can’t fathom any NFL scout watching Shedeur tape and Tyler Shough tape and saying Tyler is our guy lol. Just an odd situation but in the end ball don’t lie and if you can play or not it will be exposed.”

Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!

Many were shocked as Shedeur Sanders had to wait until the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft to get picked by the Cleveland Browns. Sanders, who won the 2024 John Unitas Golden Arm Award for top college quarterbacks, had been projected by many to be a first-round pick.

The former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback faces a complex situation in Cleveland since the Browns had picked Dillon Gabriel before him in the same draft. With Gabriel and two other quarterbacks to compete with for the starting spot, the prospects of starting for the Browns looked dim for Sanders.

Last week, he was reported to have slipped into No. 4 on the team’s unofficial quarterbacks depth chart behind Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. As if to compound an already complex quarterback situation, the Browns signed Tyler Huntley earlier this week to make five quarterbacks fighting to start.

How Shedeur Sanders got his chance to shine in preseason opener

Shedeur Sanders was handed the opportunity to shine at the Browns’ preseason opener on Friday because of multiple injury situations in their quarterback room. Pickett and Gabriel are reportedly out with hamstring injuries, while the 40-year-old Flacco was being rested.

With the unexpected opportunity to prove himself, Sanders went all out to deliver a statement performance. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, both to Kaden Davis in the first half. He finished the game with 157 total yards as the Browns beat the Carolina Panthers 30-10.

New signing Huntley played backup for Sanders, and he picked up 51 total yards and one touchdown. While his performance on Friday is not a guarantee that he will be the Browns’ primary quarterback, it’s a testament to what he can offer.

About the author

Kayode is a College and High School Sports writer at Sportskeeda since June 2023. Hailing from Nigeria, he has an undergraduate degree in Linguistics and African Languages, and has previously had stints as an entertainment and politics writer for around 7 months. Adept at creating content around historical perspectives, he strives to report stories based only on verified information. His mantra is - truth is always more important than sensationalism.

A fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Kayode admires how Nick Saban developed talent at the team and delivered consistent results, and hopes that the post-Saban era is just as fruitful. He is thoroughly impressed by Johnny Manziel’s talent, and feels that Shedeur Sanders is massively underrated. Nick Saban is his all-time favorite college coach.

While Kayode believes there is little to separate college and mainstream sports, pro leagues absorbing the best athletes leads to their quality being higher. Witnessing the Colorado Buffaloes’ hot streak at start the 2023 football season was one of his all-time favorite college sports moments.

When not writing, Kayode enjoys reading and watching sports documentaries. His most recent watch was "Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In."

Know More

"Caught more bags than touchdowns": NFL fans react to Garrett Wilson's blockbuster $130,000,000 contract extension

Edited by John Maxwell