Deion Sanders Reveals Advice to Shedeur, 'Has a Feeling' When Son Will be Browns' QB1

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has some simple advice for his son, Shedeur, as he deals with life as the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

"Be patient and be ready," he said on the New Heights podcast Monday (11:30 mark). "They call your name and you ain't ready, we ain't built like that. Sanders, we ain't built like that, we're always ready. And I want you to be patient. You don't force anything that might not be time."

It will probably be a long wait in Cleveland, or at least a yearlong one. Joe Flacco has been installed as the starter, though he's been poor through three games (631 yards, two touchdowns, four interceptions, six sacks taken, 61.1 completion percentage).

His backup is rookie Dillon Gabriel, who the Browns selected ahead of Sanders and seemed more impressed with during training camp and the preseason. Stats don't tell the full story, but here's how the two shook out during the preseason:

• Gabriel: 25-of-37 (67.6 percent) for 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception with two sacks taken.
• Sanders: 17-of-29 (58.6 percent) for 152 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and seven sacks taken.

So it will be Gabriel who gets the first crack at starting once the Browns inevitably bench Flacco, though for now, the team is sticking with the veteran:

But eventually, the reins will be handed to the younger players, and it will be Gabriel who gets the first crack at proving he can handle the responsibility. If he plays well once he gets his chance, it's unlikely Sanders will unseat him barring injury.

It's always possible the Browns could trade him, either during the season or ahead of the 2026 campaign. At some point, he'll be given the chance to fight for a starting spot somewhere. Whether that's in Cleveland remains to be seen, so patience is indeed required.