Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback, is set to make his first NFL start against the Las Vegas Raiders. The pressure is on, but former Raiders coach Antonio Pierce believes Sanders is ready for the challenge.
Pierce's Bold Prediction
Pierce, speaking ahead of the Browns-Raiders clash, revealed that Sanders was one of his top draft choices when he was with the Raiders. He stated that he would have advocated for drafting Sanders in April had he remained with the organization. "If I were to stay there, there's no way he goes to the fifth round," Pierce asserted, adding that Raiders owner Mark Davis would have supported the decision.
Sanders was eventually selected by the Browns in the fifth round, despite rumours linking him to the Raiders and New Orleans Saints, among other teams seeking a quarterback.
Sanders' Potential
Pierce shared his honest assessment of how Sanders would perform in his first full NFL game: "One thing about Shedeur, I think we see all the glitz and glamour... he's born for this," Pierce said. "His pedigree is for moments of this magnitude that he's going into."
"I expect him today to play well. And it's not because it's his first start, but the Raiders defence is not very good, especially in the passing game. And I think he'll have an exceptional game today honestly against the Raiders. Because the talent is there—now you got to prove it to the rest of the world."
Early Struggles and High Hopes
Sanders made his debut against the Baltimore Ravens last week, playing roughly two quarters. He threw for 47 yards, had one interception, and was sacked twice. Despite the initial struggles, Pierce's confidence in Sanders remains unwavering. Will Sanders live up to the hype and deliver a stellar performance against the Raiders? The game will tell.