The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback conversation has been filled with debate every week this season. Every throw, every decision, and every comment gets dissected because the position still lacks clarity. That makes it easy to forget that growth does not always happen right away, especially for young quarterbacks navigating early adversity.
Sometimes, perspective matters most when it comes from someone who has been there before.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers recently revealed his honest thoughts about what he’s seen from Sanders.
“I’ve followed Shedeur’s career. I watched him go from Jackson to Boulder. And that being a former Pac-12 school, I was pulling for him. It was a tough draft slide, much longer wait than mine was. But he’s been patient, worked on his craft, and been playing pretty good the last few weeks,” Rodgers said.
WHOLESOME: #NFL legend Aaron Rodgers talks about playing against Shedeur Sanders and Coach Prime❤️
“I've followed number 12's career. I was pulling for him. It was a tough draft slide, but he's been patient, worked on his craft, & been playing pretty good”pic.twitter.com/t0jHWQCccZ
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 26, 2025
That kind of praise matters, especially coming from a quarterback who understands what it takes to succeed at the NFL level.
Sanders has faced plenty of skepticism since entering the league. Questions about his readiness, ability and maturity have followed him from the start. Add in a difficult team situation and constant scrutiny, and it would have been easy for his confidence to slip. Instead, Sanders has stayed steady and appears to be tuning out the noise.
The fact that Rodgers mentioned Sanders’ draft slide is significant. Players remember those moments. They can fuel motivation. Sanders has not been perfect, but he has been composed, resilient, and willing to work through mistakes rather than hide from them.
This does not settle the Browns quarterback debate. But it adds important context. Development rarely has a straight path, and patience is often what separates quarterbacks who make it in the league from those who fade out.
Sometimes progress shows up quietly. And sometimes it gets noticed by the right people.
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