Who will Shedeur Sanders play? Opponent list for Cleveland Browns in 2025
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders isn't your typical fifth-round rookie.
The Colorado product and son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders was expected by many to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That didn't pan out as expected with Sanders falling to the top of Round 5 where the Cleveland Browns selected him at No. 144 overall.
Many analysts as well as current players were surprised by his fall. The Browns had even selected another quarterback in the draft - Oregon's Dillon Gabriel - before drafting Sanders.
The Browns enter 2025 with multiple options at quarterback. The Browns traded for Kenny Pickett, signed Joe Flacco and drafted two quarterbacks this offseason.
Sanders has a solid chance to start games at some point this season. He was considered the most pro-ready of the passers in his class with a high floor thanks to his accuracy and timing.
If he does take the field, here's who he could play in this season.
Shedeur Sanders 2025 opponents
Sanders and the Browns will face the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals twice in their divisional games.
They have eight road games and nine home games, though one of those home games is an international matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Here's how the schedule looks:
Home
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Green Bay Packers
- Tennessee Titans
- San Francisco 49ers
- Minnesota Vikings (in London)
Away
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
Browns QB depth chart
The Browns currently have five quarterbacks on their roster, including Sanders, entering training camp:
- Joe Flacco
- Kenny Pickett
- Dillon Gabriel
- Shedeur Sanders
- Deshaun Watson
Browns QB odds
With Watson likely out for the season with an injury, there's no clear favorite for the starting job at the time of publishing. DraftKings has odds on who will be the starter come Week 1 of the 2025 season, and things are pretty close at the top.
- Joe Flacco (+130)
- Kenny Pickett (+160)
- Shedeur Sanders (+350)
- Dillon Gabriel (+750)
- Deshaun Watson (+2000)
Flacco helped the Browns get to the playoffs in 2023 but is entering his age-41 season in the NFL. Pickett couldn't make it as the starter in Pittsburgh and spent a year in Philadelphia before coming to Cleveland. The two rookies are both very experienced which could help if given the start in Week 1.
Cleveland Browns 2025 schedule
- Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 2: at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 3: vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 4: at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 5 (London): vs. Minnesota Vikings, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network
- Week 6: at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 7: vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 8: at New England Patriots, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 9: BYE
- Week 10: at New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 11: vs. Baltimore Ravens, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 12: at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 14: vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 15: at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 17: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 18: at Cincinnati Bengals, TBD, TBD