When Shedeur Sanders was selected by the Cleveland Browns, he likely knew the challenge he’d face to play his first NFL game. Unlike other organizations, here he’s competing against three other quarterbacks for the starting role, but as time passes, he’s gained support from various fronts. The big question is whether he’ll ultimately win the starting position.

Now, one of Shedeur’s latest allies is a former NFL coach who was in the league for several seasons.

Herm Edwards believes Shedeur Sanders will be the starter

This was stated by the former NFL coach on a recent episode of The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty. Herm Edwards, former head coach of the New York Jets, asserted that the former Colorado Buffaloes player could emerge as the winner in the competition for QB1 with the Browns.

“I think he’s going to win the job,” Edwards said when asked about the situation Shedeur Sanders is currently facing.

After expressing his support for Deion Sanders‘ son, Edwards explained that his father likely played a role in his fall in the NFL Draft, as it’s no secret that Shedeur was projected to be a top pick but ended up being selected in the fifth round.

“I’ve known him (Shedeur) since he was a little kid, I know Deion (Sanders),” Edwards commented. “I think the Deion factor, that bravado, that’s why teams kind of went, ‘We don’t want this.’ Let’s call it like it is, they didn’t want that. But I didn’t think he would drop that far… When you decide to draft him, you knew what you were gonna get, and they didn’t want all that attention, the organizations. They said we don’t want this. Now, people will say it doesn’t matter. Well, it does matter. It matters this way because that bonus you get when you’re a first-round pick compared to a fifth-round pick, you never make up that money.”

Currently, Shedeur is competing against veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, as well as Dillon Gabriel, another rookie who recently arrived via the NFL Draft. In this regard, Edwards said that if there isn’t a clear choice among the more experienced players, the team should bet on the rookies.

“If I was there and it’s even, then I’m playing the rookie,” Edwards added. “I used to tell the veterans this: ‘If it’s even with you and a rookie, I’m gonna play the rookie. It can’t be even because all you have is experience.’ That’s all you got. The only way you’re gonna get experience is playing. So if you let it be even, don’t let it be even because I’m gonna play the young guy. He’s going to get better. You can’t get no better because you’ve flat-lined now.”