Baker Mayfield issues stern warning to Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has received some advice from a QB who’s been in his position before.
Baker Mayfield is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback now, but he got his start with the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He had a record-breaking rookie season and helped get them to their first playoff game in 18 years in his third season on the team.
So if there is anyone who understands the scrutiny and the pressure of being a Browns quarterback and the expectations that come along with it to finally be the answer they’ve been looking for for years, it’s Mayfield.
Baker Mayfield reminds Shedeur Sanders of NFL reality
Fast forward to 2025 and now it’s Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders who’s gaining attention from the NFL world, despite being fourth on the depth chart and being taken behind fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. So Mayfield offered Sanders a bit of advice...and warning: be ready for the spotlight and the criticism that comes with it.
“He himself has all the pieces he needs to have success. It’s just about the time and place.”
— The Dawgs - A Cleveland Browns Podcast (@thedawgspodcast) August 21, 2025
Former Browns QB Baker Mayfield comments on Shedeur Sanders with JaKi, an independent content creator for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Baker started his rookie season behind Tyrod Taylor,… pic.twitter.com/fJyZy9WbKB
“Since he was young, he’s had the spotlight on him,” Mayfield said. “So people are gonna be over-critical about every little thing.”
“So I mean the cliché: control what you can control. As a quarterback, that’s how do you win football games and how do you elevate the guys around you? I think he himself has all the pieces he needs to have success, and it’s just about the time and place.”
Sanders has impressed early, stepping up in the preseason with a two-touchdown performance in his unexpected first start. Analysts see him as a more natural potential starter than Gabriel, though roster battles remain tight as cutdown day approaches.
.@markschlereth says arm strength is overrated and what really matters is accuracy and that's why he believes in Shedeur Sanders. @InfSportsNet @DeionSanders @923TheFan pic.twitter.com/hRvDrtjo1u
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) August 20, 2025
With Joe Flacco entrenched as Week 1 starter and Kenny Pickett still recovering from an injury, Sanders may have a clearer path to stick on the Browns’ roster, and perhaps an eventual shot at leading the team if their season falters.
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