Browns GM: Shedeur Sanders has made major offseason strides

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said last week that second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders has taken significant steps in his development during the team’s offseason program. Berry said the progress has built over roughly the past six months and became more noticeable once the Browns moved into on-field work in May.

Berry made the remarks during a local radio interview, calling Sanders’s spring “excellent” and describing the quarterback’s growth as “phenomenal.” He said Sanders benefited from time after his rookie season to review his year, identify areas to improve and carry that work into the club’s spring schedule.

The Browns are expected to carry their quarterback competition into training camp. Head coach Todd Monken, entering his first season with Cleveland, said last week he is not ready to name a starter.

Berry said the next key checkpoint will come when the environment shifts in the fall, with padded and live situations in camp and preseason games providing a clearer evaluation than scripted offseason practices.

Berry cites January work and May practices as turning points

Berry said Sanders began his offseason work in January and February, using the early months to revisit his rookie year and target specific areas for improvement. He added that the progress carried into organized team work and showed up more clearly once the Browns began holding “real practices” in May.

Berry said the organization is eager to see whether that development continues when the tempo rises and practice conditions become less controlled. He pointed to fall camp, preseason action and more physical settings as the tests that will show how offseason gains translate.

Quarterback competition expected to continue into camp

Cleveland has not named a Week 1 starter. Berry said Sanders will continue to compete with Deshaun Watson as the coaching staff gathers more live reps and comparisons during training camp and the preseason.

Berry said sustained progress from Sanders would be an important development for a franchise that has continued to seek long-term stability at quarterback, and he indicated the decision will come once the team has a larger sample of work in live situations.

Training camp and preseason games will be the next major evaluation windows for Monken and his staff as Cleveland moves toward setting its depth chart for the regular season.