Cam Ward VS Shedeur Sanders VS Jaxson Dart

[MightyGiants]

McShay seems to think it will be Ward and Sanders one and two

Why Shedeur to the Browns makes sense

Last week, during an interview with Browns play-by-play broadcaster Andrew Siciliano, franchise cornerstone Myles Garrett hinted that he knows Cleveland's future plans at quarterback. When Siciliano asked whether Garrett liked the idea, he responded by saying, "I like it enough to be here smiling in front of you, because I think we have a good chance of that happening and making the most of it."

Many fans thought those comments pointed to Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, whom the Browns have a clear path to drafting with the no. 2 pick. And more smoke supporting that theory arrived over the weekend, after Sanders exchanged pleasantries with Cleveland Guardians top prospect Travis Bazzana on Instagram.

While I don't typically peddle in this type of rumor mongering and the above examples are far from hard evidence, I think the conspiracy theorists may be onto something. For starters, it's apparent that Cleveland is on the list of acceptable spots for Shedeur to land, which isn't the case for every team in the NFL draft QB market. And while I've reported that two teams (both of which need a QB) who interviewed Sanders at the scouting combine weren't overly impressed by him, it's worth noting that Cleveland wasn't one of those teams.

Maybe there's fire to the smoke, maybe there isn't. Either way, I want to advance the narrative. Over the weekend, I took some time to re-familiarize myself with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski's history and did some serious thinking about what general manager Andrew Berry, Stefanski, and the organization are up against because of the Deshaun Watson contract mess. I also made some calls to people I trust—who are or have been in that GM seat—for their perspective on the situation. 

From an organizational standpoint, Cleveland's only way out of salary cap purgatory is to land their guy at QB on a rookie contract. They can't expect to be drafting again this high for a while, and because of Watson's deal also don't have the cap space to make a big-ticket signing at QB, which is why they were never in the Matthew Stafford or Sam Darnold sweepstakes.

For Berry and Stefanski specifically, it's all about winning now. If Cleveland is drafting this high again next year, there's a good chance both guys are out of a job. If they think they have a roster good enough to win a lot of games in 2025—and probably for the next two years—they need solid (not elite, just solid to above-average) QB play as soon as possible. They also know that they won't have the money to sign a top-tier starter at QB next year, so the situation isn't changing during the 2026 offseason. 

This is all to say that Cleveland's best chance at winning short and long term is to strike gold with the no. 2 pick. Is Shedeur an elite prospect? No. Would he have been one of the top four or five QBs taken last year? No. But if I'm Berry, I understand putting my trust in my head coach, who has a proven track record of getting the most out of pocket-passing quarterbacks that lack elite arm strength and mobility. Sound familiar? 

Shedeur's skill set is strikingly similar to the handful of QBs that Stefanski has won a lot of games with in the past, including Case Keenum (who won 11 games for the Vikings with Stefanski as QB coach in 2017), Kirk Cousins (whose Vikings team won 10 games under Stefanski as offensive coordinator in 2019), and most recently, a late-career Joe Flacco, who went 4-1 as the Browns starter in 2023.

Sanders also seemingly wants to be a Brown despite Cleveland's track record at QB, and he's the best pure pocket passer in this year's class when he's protected and playing on schedule. If he isn't ready for Week 1, Stefanski and Co. should still be able to win a few games with Kenny Pickett. And if the front office can get Russell Wilson on the cheap, great. Let all three guys battle it out in camp, with the best man winning the job come late August.

https://mcshay-report.beehiiv.com/p/shedeur-sanders-browns-running-back-tiers

[MightyGiants]

https://x.com/CSimmsQB/status/1901681703577411585

[MightyGiants]

https://x.com/CFBNumbers/status/1901654838091407868

[MightyGiants]

https://x.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/1901646389437714848

[Woody]

Enough already.    Sign Wilson for two years and hope to get Dart in draft.
Stop fooling around and get it done


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MightyGiants]

2025 Draft QB Ranks: Shedeur Sanders Tier 1? | Chris Simms Unbuttoned

(0:00) Chris talks about his hits & misses
(9:00) 2025 vs 2024 QB class
(16:00) #1 QB Cam Ward (Miami)
(33:30) #2 QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
(53:35) #3 QB Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss)
(1:08:10) #4 QB Kyle McCord (Syracuse)
(1:18:00) #5 QB Quinn Ewers (Texas)
(1:30:30) Honorable Mentions: Tyler Shough (Louisville)
(1:34:00) Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)
(1:36:00) Graham Mertz (Florida)
(1:37:30) Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
(1:45:10) Riley Leonard (Notre Dame)
(1:49:05) What about...Brady Cook (Missouri)
(1:50:00) Will Howard (Ohio State)

[MightyGiants]

I listened to the Chris Simms podcast of the video I posted.  After listening to it, I am a little higher on Sanders and McCord. 

One thing I thought was odd (since Simms doesn't listen to others, he will have outlier opinions) was he didn't think Dart was athletic (at least not as athletic as Sanders) despite Dart having significantly more rushing yards than either Ward or Sanders.

The other thing is that I really can't see the Titans not selecting Ward who is clearly the best of the bunch and has the potential of being a good NFL QB.

[Gmo11]

I listened to the Chris Simms podcast of the video I posted.  After listening to it, I am a little higher on Sanders and McCord. 

One thing I thought was odd (since Simms doesn't listen to others, he will have outlier opinions) was he didn't think Dart was athletic (at least not as athletic as Sanders) despite Dart having significantly more rushing yards than either Ward or Sanders.

The other thing is that I really can't see the Titans not selecting Ward who is clearly the best of the bunch and has the potential of being a good NFL QB.

This is why the Giants intentions of trading up to #1 are basically dead.  Same as last year, they want the QB but so does the team they are trying to trade with so that team is not budging.  Sure was a great thing to beat the Colts in that meaningless freaking game huh?  Same as that Devito Linsanity run he had the year before?  That's how you get stuck in QB hell waiting around for a sociopathic lunatic to decide on his own damn time if he wants to ruin your franchise the way he did the last one he played for.  It's infuriating that Mara somehow thinks that's how to run a team.

Anyways...whether its Sanders or Dart or Wilson it's going to be an upgrade.  How much of an upgrade remains to be seen but it's going to be better than it was if nothing else.

[MightyGiants]

This is why the Giants intentions of trading up to #1 are basically dead.  Same as last year, they want the QB but so does the team they are trying to trade with so that team is not budging.  Sure was a great thing to beat the Colts in that meaningless freaking game huh?  Same as that Devito Linsanity run he had the year before?  That's how you get stuck in QB hell waiting around for a sociopathic lunatic to decide on his own damn time if he wants to ruin your franchise the way he did the last one he played for.  It's infuriating that Mara somehow thinks that's how to run a team.

Anyways...whether its Sanders or Dart or Wilson it's going to be an upgrade.  How much of an upgrade remains to be seen but it's going to be better than it was if nothing else.

Nabers was banged up that game and could have easily been rested.  Thanks to Mara's no tanking and Daboll's fear for his job, they played Nabers, and he had a lights-out game against a terrible Colts defense, and the rest (as they say) is history.

That said, we can't go back in time and change things.  We can only push forward.

[Gmo11]

Nabers was banged up that game and could have easily been rested.  Thanks to Mara's (no tanking) and Daboll's fear for their job, they played Nabers, and he had a lights-out game against a terrible Colts defense, and the rest (as they say) is history.

That said, we can't go back in time and change things.  We can only push forward.

Exactly right!  There was no reason to play Nabers in that game.  The only thing I could think at the time was that Nabers demanded it to get the Giants receiving records and get to 1000 yards which....i mean...sure...but seems like he'd rather HAVE AN ACTUAL LIVING BREATHING QB FOR THE NEXT 8 YEARS INSTEAD.

But given what Mara said, chances are HE was the one that demanded they go all out to win every game they could for absolutely no reason.  While at the same time making it clear if they didn't win at least one game down the stretch everybody was fired. 

[Ed Vette]

I listened to the Chris Simms podcast of the video I posted.  After listening to it, I am a little higher on Sanders and McCord. 

One thing I thought was odd (since Simms doesn't listen to others, he will have outlier opinions) was he didn't think Dart was athletic (at least not as athletic as Sanders) despite Dart having significantly more rushing yards than either Ward or Sanders.

The other thing is that I really can't see the Titans not selecting Ward who is clearly the best of the bunch and has the potential of being a good NFL QB.

This is why I try to avoid the take of others, even ones I respect, like Chris and Kurt Warner. Unless they are breaking down film, I don't know the basis for their opinions.

Although Dart won't translate into a dual threat QB in the nature of Jackson, he is absolutely a good athlete. He's been compared to Hurts, but I can see how well he fits what Daboll likes to do with RPOs and Read Option. I can also see him used in a couple of QB Run options. Dart's strength is RPO/PRO and his decisiveness. He's faster than he looks and he can escape first level tackles, while protecting himself.

[Ed Vette]

My difficulty in evaluating these QBs is that the more film I watch and then reviewing their Combine or lack there of, and their Pro Days, it leaves me with an uncertainty that I didn't have before all the research.

For example, I was liking McCord before the combine and then I had reservations about the velocity of his throws. Then his Pro Day under ideal circumstances, brings me back.

Sanders with his polished mechanics and accuracy, didn't complete the package with all the sacks he took. He had a horrible Oine and lousy Offensive Playbook. I have to grade him on a curve and the reality is that it prepared him well for what to expect at the next level.

With Ward, I question some of his decisions. That's even more so for Dart, where I have difficulty getting past that Florida game. I remember after watching that game live, my initial reaction was that he will choke in big moments. Although Ward had a good game against Syracuse, he still lost the game to McCord.

There are traits and strengths I like about the second tier QBs, that show promise. I like McCord, Leonard, Shough and Dillon Gabriel. And Will Howard demands respect for what he's accomplished. As I've said before, there doesn't seem to be much space between the top three and the rest of the pack.

[Jclayton92]

My difficulty in evaluating these QBs is that the more film I watch and then reviewing their Combine or lack there of, and their Pro Days, it leaves me with an uncertainty that I didn't have before all the research.

For example, I was liking McCord before the combine and then I had reservations about the velocity of his throws. Then his Pro Day under ideal circumstances, brings me back.

Sanders with his polished mechanics and accuracy, didn't complete the package with all the sacks he took. He had a horrible Oine and lousy Offensive Playbook. I have to grade him on a curve and the reality is that it prepared him well for what to expect at the next level.

With Ward, I question some of his decisions. That's even more so for Dart, where I have difficulty getting past that Florida game. I remember after watching that game live, my initial reaction was that he will choke in big moments. Although Ward had a good game against Syracuse, he still lost the game to McCord.

There are traits and strengths I like about the second tier QBs, that show promise. I like McCord, Leonard, Shough and Dillon Gabriel. And Will Howard demands respect for what he's accomplished. As I've said before, there doesn't seem to be much space between the top three and the rest of the pack.

If you look at the Florida game, at least the first 3 quarters, Dart throws a masterpiece, I was listening to mcshay the other day echo the same sentiments. The last 3-4 throws that were him trying to play hero ball down his top 2 wrs, te1, 3 olinemen, and top 2 Rbs. If you rewatch that game, some of the things he did with his eyes and arm were ridiculous in an elite way.

I also agree with you on the athleticism, he's right there with Hurts and Allen in mobility so I'm not sure why he thought he wasn't mobile. His angry runs are one of my favorite parts of his game.

[Ed Vette]

If you look at the Florida game, at least the first 3 quarters, Dart throws a masterpiece, I was listening to mcshay the other day echo the same sentiments. The last 3-4 throws that were him trying to play hero ball down his top 2 wrs, te1, 3 olinemen, and top 2 Rbs. If you rewatch that game, some of the things he did with his eyes and arm were ridiculous in an elite way.

I also agree with you on the athleticism, he's right there with Hurts and Allen in mobility so I'm not sure why he thought he wasn't mobile. His angry runs are one of my favorite parts of his game.

He has a tendency to first look at the pass rush and then his first read. The Offensive is a masterpiece of scheming Receivers open, creating space and creating lanes for the RB. My guess is that they are 2 X 2 about 40% of snaps, 3 X 1 on 35% of snaps. He seldom gets past his first two reads and tends to stick to one side of the field, missing the wide open opportunities at the checkdowns. Of course, of the first two reads one or more is often open. Kiffen also likes to do multiple quick hitches, and about 20% of the plays are to an intended Receiver. That Florida game had multiple opportunities to drive the ball with short and intermediate throws, yet he put the ball in harms way. Those two final regular season games, the defense was in Cover 2 with middle open and he continued to attack outside the hash and numbers. His Bowl game and Arkansas game were masterful. Kiffen kept Dart in the game to the end and I don't know if it was to showcase him or not. Very odd since the backup QB who's a lefty is quite competent in his own right.

[Ed Vette]

If you look at the Florida game, at least the first 3 quarters, Dart throws a masterpiece, I was listening to mcshay the other day echo the same sentiments. The last 3-4 throws that were him trying to play hero ball down his top 2 wrs, te1, 3 olinemen, and top 2 Rbs. If you rewatch that game, some of the things he did with his eyes and arm were ridiculous in an elite way.

I also agree with you on the athleticism, he's right there with Hurts and Allen in mobility so I'm not sure why he thought he wasn't mobile. His angry runs are one of my favorite parts of his game.

I think his helmet was torn off about a half dozen times.