Shedeur Sanders' Play Analyzed by NFL Insiders After 1st 2 Starts For Browns

With two starts under his belt, Shedeur Sanders' performance has shown some things that has NFL scouts encouraged about his ability to develop going forward.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, the main takeaway from people around the league is that Sanders "looks like a rookie quarterback" at this point.

One personnel evaluator told Fowler the way the Cleveland Browns' coaching staff used Sanders in Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers shows they aren't asking him to do much right now.

"There were a lot of screens and boots [on Sunday vs. San Francisco]," the evaluator said. "You can tell they are trying to protect him, which you want to do with almost all rookie quarterbacks. But overall I thought he looked pretty comfortable in the pocket. He just needs time."

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Sanders has gone 27-of-45 for 358 yards, two touchdowns and one interception since taking over as Cleveland's starter in Week 12. He has shown off his arm talent, like on the 53-yard pass to Isaiah Bond while running to his right to avoid pressure against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Some of the negatives that were spotlighted in scouting reports leading up to the draft have also shown up, particularly his tendency to drift back in the pocket. Sanders has taken six sacks in three appearances (8.96 percent sack rate) and lost 64 yards on those plays.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has already said that Sanders will remain the starter for Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans. They are in a position where they need to see all they can from their young quarterbacks.

You don't necessarily want to make a permanent declaration on a rookie, especially based on a handful of starts, but the Browns are looking ahead to a draft where they have two first-round picks.

In a class that could have three first-round quarterback prospects if Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson and Dante Moore all declare, the Browns might be tempted to add one of them if they don't see improvements from Sanders down the stretch this season.