Shedeur Sanders can be the ‘franchise guy,’ says Browns legend Joe Thomas

A tumultuous start to Shedeur Sanders’ career is beginning to take shape.

After unexpectedly falling from a potential top-five pick to being drafted in the fifth round, Sanders ended up being the third quarterback on the Cleveland Browns’ depth chart, in part because they traded Kenny Pickett.

Joe Flacco was traded, and then rookie Dillon Gabriel got hurt, giving Sanders a chance. He won his first NFL start and has been the starter ever since.

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It’s been a mixed bag for Sanders, who has five touchdowns against six interceptions. Three of those touchdowns came last week against the Tennessee Titans, but three of his interceptions came in a 31-3 beatdown of the Chicago Bears.

It doesn’t help that his top target in Jerry Jeudy has trouble catching the football and his offensive line is depleted, but that’s why Browns legend Joe Thomas believes the Browns need to look outside the box.

“I think he’s done a really good job … I think he has a great opportunity to make a name for himself and make a case to be the franchise guy, so the Browns can then use their two first-round draft picks to build around him and then make him the starter throughout the offseason and into training camp and really give him every opportunity to win that job,” Thomas said in a recent interview with Pakinomist Digital.

“For the guys that are in that room: the quarterbacks coach, the offensive coordinator, the guys that are teaching him and coaching him on what to do every single day, there has to be a level of trust between them. … It’s very important that he understands, ‘I’m just going to do my job, as if all the other guys around me are going to do their job and have that confidence, and whether they don’t have that confidence and don’t have that influence or not.” of him and that work, he’s making the strides he’s making. That’s very difficult for anyone to do, much less a rookie, but I think that’s the key to him being able to take those steps to prove to the Browns that he’s their franchise guy.

Those two first-rounders, including their own, which currently sits at No. 4, could be enough to potentially move up to the top spot for Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, but Thomas said the Browns have the keys to the car and it’s up to them to unlock what they already have in Sanders.

Cleveland Browns’ Shedeur Sanders (12) and Teven Jenkins (74) celebrate a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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“I think just trying to get him to understand that he’s got to operate within the confines of the offense and within what they’re asking him to do. But you still don’t want to handicap and handcuff what he’s really good at, which is making some plays outside of the scheme, rising to the moment, extending plays and finding those receivers down the field, so I think they had earlier in the season. those things with the explosive plays, those things that maybe is unscripted, is there where he can separate himself…” Thomas said. “And I think that’s really the key, because that’s what made him such a popular player in college.

“That’s what allows him to continue to be a really popular player and to have a lot of people on his side, not just Browns fans. So I think you never want to handcuff a guy from his strengths and you just want to try to, within the framework of that offense, within what you ask of him, allow him to be unlocked to really dive into what he does best.”

The 2025 campaign is another year the Browns will be home for Super Bowl weekend, but Thomas is helping fans have Las Vegas plans just by playing UNO. Thomas partnered with Mattel for the UNO Elite Championships, which are free to enter, with the grand prize being a three-day trip to Las Vegas during Super Bowl weekend.

“It’s like a Hunger Games-style UNO championship going on right now, people are going to kill each other over that trophy,” Thomas joked. “When you’re a kid, it’s an easy game to learn, it’s fun, but it’s also fun for the parents. And then, as a lifelong UNO player, a lifelong UNO fan, and now that I have kids of my own, we get to play UNO at home, it was a cool opportunity to collaborate with them.”

Browns fans are hoping for plans to have a genuine interest during the Super Bowl, and Thomas believes Sanders can give the fan base some hope.

“I think it’s kind of challenging, but he’s got to do it with his game. And I think making those big plays in those moments down the stretch here, making those big throws, those are the things that can give Browns fans hope, right?” Thomas said. “Obviously if your receivers hold up their end of the bargain and catch the football and complete those plays, but just to see Shedeur out there, to see him make the big plays, to see him take the team down the field in the two-minute drill, that would go a long way to give Browns fans the feeling that it’s him and give them comfort, which is that I’m in really good hands with this franchise. I hope we find the rest of the season.”

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

“Of course we have fun with Myles [Garrett] chasing the sack record and a few more games this season to hopefully get it. But as much as it’s about Myles getting that sack record, we know the long-term health of this franchise is about the quarterback position. The early Christmas gift would be to see Myles get the sack record this weekend and then also see Shedeur play a great game, minimize his mistakes and maybe have a game-winning drive and do the Josh Allen thing where he brings his team back and he scores the points needed to win and I think a lot of people in Cleveland will have a little early Christmas Eve.”