Examination Reveals Shedeur Sanders' Thrilling Practice Numbers Misleading

All eyes are on the Cleveland Browns' quarterback battle this offseason, with four possibilities for a starting passer on the roster.

It could either be the best shape Cleveland has been in in years or the worst, depending on how it goes.

With two veterans and two rookie draft picks to choose from, coach Kevin Stefanski will have his work cut out for him this summer.

It's still very early in the process, but with one of the participants holding the last name, "Sanders," there are lofty expectations for someone who was once considered a possible top-five draft pick this year. But after a wicked fall during the draft process, a lot of people are rooting for Shedeur Sanders to win the job.

Earlier this week, ESPN Cleveland posted passing numbers from that day's OTAs with some impressive stats from Sanders.

On the surface, it looks like Sanders had the best day of the four.

But a deeper dive will show something else. Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot said on her podcast that those numbers are not what they seem.

“Shedeur Sanders ... did not take one rep in 11-on-11s,” Cabot said. “He has to come in here as the fourth-string quarterback and work his way up that depth chart. So, he did not take a team rep. He did not have Mason Graham in his face yesterday at all.”

“There’s just no real context to those numbers either in that graphic,” co-host Ashley Bastock added. “Basically, what you’re saying, one guy, Shedeur, was not in 11-on-11s at all. The other guy’s numbers, I would assume, but I don’t know for sure, include their 11-on-11 numbers.”

Sanders just did what he was told and threw to whoever was made available to him. And 7-of-9 passing isn't bad. But it's also not comparable to the conditions of the other player's numbers. 

Sanders will no doubt get his turn, but for now, let's compare the proverbial apples to apples.