"They all look good shadow boxing"- NFL Analyst questions RGIII for hyping Shedeur Sanders without accounting for pressure

Shedeur Sanders is preparing for his first season in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns' fifth-round pick is competing against fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel and veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett for the QB1 spot.

Shedeur Sanders has caught the attention of former Offensive Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III, better known as RGIII. RGIII praised Sanders for thriving in OTAs, giving him his props for performing despite the odds being stacked against him.

However, NFL analyst Steve Kim is questioning RGIII for hyping the Browns' rookie without accounting for pressure. Speaking on Saturday's episode of "Fearless with Jason Whitlock," he said:

"When I watch a boxer, they all look good shadow boxing. They all look good on the heavy back. They all look good on the mids. You know when they don't look good all the time, when someone's hitting them back and so to his comment looking at these clips you know what didn't look like a first round draft choice to most teams - his actual game tape at Colorado." (1:01 onwards)

"I just am absolutely flabbergasted that a guy that played in the National Football League, who understands the position in theory, had various amounts of success, does not understand that everything looks good against air…"

Robert Griffin III was particular about Shedeur Sanders' arm talent, and he sees it as telling considering that the Cleveland Browns' rookie was initially projected to be a first-round pick. Griffin knows a thing or two about playing in the big leagues, as he spent eight years in the National Football League.

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How is Shedeur Sanders performing with the Browns?

According to ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin, Shedeur Sanders is thriving in the Browns' OTAs.

"Listen, in that building, there are people who believe that Shedeur can 100 percent be the starter of this football team," Martin said on ESPN's "Get Up."

"You said it's incumbent upon the Browns to put him in the situation, it’s also incumbent upon Shedeur to do the work, which, talking to people in that building, they've said he is soaking up everything like a sponge."

This is rather impressive considering that Sanders is still listed as the fifth quarterback on the depth chart behind Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Joe Flacco. Sanders is playing for the chance to be on the active roster by the time the Browns have their regular season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Browns are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2023. Kevin Stefanski will fancy his side's chances considering the loads of effort put into the draft and the moves made in free agency. Franchise superstar Myles Garrett has re-signed with the side, thereby solidifying their defense for the foreseeable future.