STEPHEN A. SMITH thinks that Shedeur Sanders is in for a test of his “emotional and mental resolve” following his unbelievable draft slide.
Sanders, 23, fell to the fifth round in last week’s NFL Draft despite many experts and fans thinking he could go as early as a top-10 overall pick.
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The quarterback was eventually picked up by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th overall pick.
Five QBs were selected before Sanders, including Dillon Gabriel – who was also picked by the Browns.
Which means Sanders will now be competing for the QB1 spot on the Browns with Gabriel, Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco and an injured Deshaun Watson.
ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith has weighed in on the story of the draft, saying that the monumental slide will have been a “reality check” for Sanders.
Speaking on First Take, Smith said: “I think that you had people looking to give him a reality check.
“And now I think what you’re going to see is people wanting to test his emotional and mental resolve as it pertains to that.”
Smith revealed that he was heard Saunders is “anxious to go out there and show out”.
But added that he thinks Sanders will be judged both on his personality off the field and his ability on the field when battling with the other quarterbacks on the Browns’ roster.
He explained: “You’re hearing people out of Cleveland talking about how Dillon Gabriel was their preferred quarterback.
“I don’t know how, because he wasn’t Shedeur Sanders, but nevertheless they were looking at it [that way].
“You look at Flacco, he’s a fan favourite. They loved him in Cleveland and they never wanted him to leave after the job he did for them a couple of years ago when Deshaun Watson went down and he came in and did his thing.
“And then you’re looking at Kenny Pickett. Now I know that Kenny Pickett is a former [Pittsburgh] Steeler then he went to Philadelphia [Eagles], he’s got a Super Bowl championship as a backup – we get all that part.
“But in his last 17 starts, his record is like 13-4. So when you look at it from that stand point, I think they look at Shedeur as a long term solution.
“I’m not saying that he’s going to sit out the year or anything like that, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s the starter at some point this upcoming season.
“But I don’t think he’s a guy that’s going to be judged by just his play, I think they’re going to want to see whether or not that ego that people were talking about is something that they’re going to have to concern themselves with.
“And unfortunately I think they’re going to test him and I think that’s why he’s going to be prevented from starting Week One. Not because he won’t deserve it, I just think they’re going to test him.”
Sanders, who threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns for the Colorado Buffaloes last season, has had advice from all over since his high-profile slide.
NFL legend Tony Romo told the US Sun that “it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish”.
While even President Donald Trump took to social media to voice his anger at Sanders not being “picked immediately”.
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