After each NFL team passed on Sanders multiple teams during the draft, Friday’s game could barely have gone any better for the rookie.
Cleveland actually drafted another quarterback before Sanders – Gabriel in the third round – so he is currently fourth on the Browns’ depth chart, behind veteran Joe Flacco, new signing Pickett and fellow rookie Gabriel.
The amount of media attention Sanders has had during the off-season is unprecedented for a fifth-round draft pick and a fourth-string quarterback.
He had a bigger profile than any previous draft prospect. His father and college coach is two-time Super Bowl winner Deion Sanders and Shedeur earned about $6.5m (£4.9m) through NIL deals in college.
During the pre-draft process he was branded arrogant and entitled, but before his first NFL game Sanders showed he will continue to be himself.
He arrived at the stadium in Charlotte with an entourage, playing his own music and wearing a diamond chain featuring his own ‘legendary’ brand.
Sanders was wearing a different chain as he came on to the field to warm up and after throwing his first touchdown pass at the start of the second quarter, he performed his signature watch celebration from college.
Soon after, one of his sponsors Nike released an advertisement featuring the celebration and the words “only a matter of time”.
James was one of many to praise his performance on social media, and Sanders said afterwards: “That’s love. I’m playing for a lot of people and a lot of beliefs.”
Carolina went into a 7-0 lead during the first quarter as Sanders was “just getting comfortable”.
“I got pockets of finding my rhythm, and I’ve got to get into that quicker, regardless of anything,” he added. “But overall, I felt like me out there.”
Sanders is not guaranteed a spot on the Browns’ active roster, never mind the starter’s job, and he says he is focused on “just doing what I gotta do”.
“Everything else is not in my hands, so I don’t worry about it,” he said. “Why put energy in something that you can’t control?”
The second of Cleveland’s three pre-season games is next Saturday against last season’s Super Bowl winners, the Philadelphia Eagles.
