Is Shedeur Sanders losing Browns QB battle? Asante Samuel’s criticism explained

Asante Samuel, a former NFL cornerback, has once again cast doubt on Shedeur Sanders' chances of becoming the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback. Samuel believes Sanders is improving but is not eradicating his bad habits rapidly enough. This criticism comes after Deshaun Watson received first-team reps, sparking fresh questions about Shedeur's position in the quarterback competition.

The Browns had initially planned for Shedeur to receive most of the first-team work, but Deshaun Watson was given the primacy. Later, the team clarified that Watson was utilized with the starters to evaluate certain personnel groupings. Despite this, Monken has repeatedly emphasized that the quarterback position remains open and has praised Shedeur's abilities while also highlighting areas that need improvement.

Samuel's comments add weight to the argument for Watson, especially as Cleveland prepares for its preseason game against Chicago. Samuel's feud with Deion Sanders, Shedeur's father, began in March 2025 when Deion criticized the T-step technique used by defensive backs. Samuel responded on social media, calling Deion's criticism "foolishness" and comparing his NFL career to Sanders'. The argument intensified when Shannon Sharpe defended Deion, asserting that Samuel is not in the same league as the Sanders brothers.

Though the dispute cooled, Samuel reignited the debate by questioning Shedeur's efforts to earn Cleveland's trust. The Cleveland Browns' situation remains fluid, with Monken stating that the quarterback position is still up for grabs, and Shedeur's performance will be crucial in determining his fate.