Shedeur Sanders navigates two styles of mentorship with the Browns

Shedeur Sanders seems to be learning from the best as he gears up for his NFL debut. The young quarterback has found a new mentor in Browns veteran Deshaun Watson, who has taken Deion Sanders’ son under his wing.

Reports suggest that Watson, currently recovering from an injury, has become a steady presence for Shedeur Sanders—offering advice, insights, and real talk both on the field and in quarterback meetings.

Shedeur Sanders is surrounded by talent

Drafted 144th overall, Shedeur Sanders joined the Browns alongside another fresh face: quarterback Dillon Gabriel, also picked up during the 2025 NFL Draft. In the locker room and out on the field, Sanders has been building chemistry not just with Gabriel, but also with quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco.

The four are battling it out for a shot at the starting job. But with this level of talent in the room, Shedeur Sanders—like the others—knows nothing is guaranteed.

Two styles of leadership

The Browns’ QB room is loaded with experience and perspective, giving Shedeur Sanders plenty of mentorship material to absorb. But, interestingly, he’s encountered two very different leadership styles.

 

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On one side is Watson, who actively supports and mentors younger players like Shedeur Sanders. On the other is Joe Flacco, who has made it clear he won’t play the mentor role unless explicitly asked.

“I try to be honest, and like I’ve said before—I’m not a mentor. I play football,” Flacco stated bluntly. “There’s a lot of learning that happens naturally in a quarterback room. I’ve got a ton of experience, I can talk about things, and hopefully they’ll listen. But it’s not my job to make sure they do.”

Shared goal

Whether Shedeur Sanders learns from Watson’s hands-on guidance or absorbs lessons from Flacco’s show-don’t-tell approach, the competition is already shaping up to be a learning lab for the rookies.

Of course, the real test will come when the games begin and the Browns take the field. Until then, every quarterback—including Shedeur Sanders—is grinding for that coveted starting spot. We’ll soon see if Sanders can show the league what he’s really made of.