Shedeur Sanders has never lacked confidence, and No. 3 on an NFL depth chart hasn’t changed that. 

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The Cleveland Browns’ third-string quarterback held media availability Thursday with a group of local reporters, where he spoke openly about his self-belief.

The quote making the rounds: “I’m ready to play right now.”

Shedeur Sanders on his current status in Cleveland:

“I’m ready to play right now.”❤️ pic.twitter.com/f4ncUZsVoZ

This wasn’t actually Sanders putting down the other QBs on the Browns. Joe Flacco remains the starter, while Dillon Gabriel is the backup.

Sanders was speaking, in part, about quarterback play across the NFL as a whole.

“I know if you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that,” Sanders said, via ESPN Cleveland.

Sanders is maintaining the ideal mindset for a backup, adding this thought during his interview: “If things happen, if things pan out where I play, then I’ll be out there and I’ll be ready to play.”

There has been plenty of speculation since Sanders was drafted about what kind of role he would have as a rookie.

The reality is that the Browns are likely to ride Flacco at least until Oct. 19, their next manageable defensive matchup, against the Miami Dolphins. Given Gabriel’s depth chart placement, he would likely get the first start if Flacco were unavailable.

But when the Browns turn the reins over to a rookie, they might as well have Sanders ready to go, too.

Cleveland has two first-round picks in 2026 (their own and Jacksonville’s), so the team owes it to itself to figure out what it has with the current quarterbacks on the roster. That includes Sanders, who is ready to show what he can do.

When Shedeur Sanders boldly stated that he wouldn’t hesitate to compete for the starting position against veterans like Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel, the reactions from both quarterbacks were immediate and telling.3

Joe Flacco distances himself from Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders as Kevin Stefanski tries to unite his team | Marca

Joe Flacco, with over 15 years of NFL experience and a Super Bowl MVP under his belt, didn’t seem too rattled but it was clear that he wasn’t impressed. Though he didn’t directly counter Sanders’ claim, his response was tinged with a sense of dismissiveness, indicating he didn’t take the young quarterback’s challenge seriously.

On the other hand, Dillon Gabriel, took a more direct approach, expressing his frustration with Sanders’ statement. He criticized the audacity of a rookie trying to take his spot, emphasizing that respect for those who have paid their dues should be paramount.

Gabriel also made it clear that he was ready to compete fairly for his position but found Sanders’ comments disrespectful, suggesting that the young QB didn’t fully grasp the hard work and years of effort it took to earn a starting role.

It’s clear that this exchange is adding fuel to the fire of an already intense competition, and it might just make for some compelling drama in this season.