If anybody knows what it’s like to play on a team with uncertainty at the quarterback position, it’s former Cleveland Browns legend Joe Thomas. We have all seen the viral never-ending Browns jersey with seemingly a hundred quarterbacks’ names added on the back, and the Hall of Fame left tackle unfortunately blocked for quite a few of them over his many years in Cleveland.
This organization has undoubtedly been one of the worst in the NFL at developing young quarterbacks, which is why names keep getting added to that jersey. Hopefully someday soon, Browns fans can buy a quarterback’s jersey without worrying about whether or not they’ll be on the team in two years, and maybe if the front office listens to Joe Thomas a little more, that could happen sometime soon.
Thomas recently shared what his experience was like blocking for so many different quarterbacks. He also shared some insight into what a new QB needs to succeed, which is highly relevant to the moment since Shedeur Sanders will be making his first start of 2026 against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
“I blocked for 20 quarterbacks over 11 seasons. That’s a new one about every eight games, so when a new quarterback walks into that huddle, here’s what the line actually should be doing. We don’t change the protection. We just change the volume on the line of scrimmage. Nobody leaves the new quarterback guessing about who’s coming free. You’re demonstrative. The new guy doesn’t need any big rah-rah speeches. He needs five guys who already know what they’re doing,” Thomas said.
What an offensive line does when a new quarterback walks in. I blocked for 20 of them in 11 seasons. The new guy doesn't need a rah-rah speech. He needs five guys who already know what they're doing. pic.twitter.com/9Y68m2nd2w
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) November 7, 2026
It’s a great point from one of the best to ever do it. Sanders had an awful offensive line in college and last year’s line with the Browns was injured beyond belief.
This year, things should be different with five new starters. Deshaun Watson has been sacked more than any other quarterback in the league thus far, but a lot of the sacks he has taken have been on him, not the O-Line. He has had a solid rebound campaign, but too often he takes seven or eight-step drops while already in shotgun and puts himself in an impossible position where the line can’t protect him.
If Sanders can trust his big boys up front and get the ball out quickly against the Saints, he should be able to settle into a nice groove. He’ll have better protection, better weapons, and a staff that believes in him, none of which he had last season.
It’ll be hard to communicate in the Superdome, but an early score or two should quiet the crowd and help get Sanders into a groove.
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