Shedeur Sanders confident he can turn around Browns; Cam Ward knows 'it'll work out good' if drafted by Cleveland

INDIANAPOLIS — Shedeur Sanders isn't intimidated.Not by the 3-14 record in 2024. Or Myles Garrett asking to be traded. Or the list of failed starting quarterbacks since 1999 that can't fit on a jersey.Sanders didn't hesitate when asked why he could be the quarterback to turn around things for the Browns, who've won one playoff game since 1995."Because I've done it at two locations already, so it's simple," he said Friday at the scouting combine.Travis Hunter makes it clear he wants full-time roles on offense and defense in NFLSanders pointed repeatedly to the turnarounds he helped engineer in two years each at Jackson State and Colorado as examples of what he'll do in the NFL.Jackson State went 23-3 with Sanders after four wins in each of the previous two seasons, and Colorado went from 1-11 in 2022 to 9-4 in 2024."If you ain't trying to change the franchise or the culture, don't get me," he said, sounding like Baker Mayfield at the 2018 combine before the Browns took him No. 1. "So you should know, history repeats itself over and over and over and I've done it over and over and over. So it should be no question."The battle to be the draft's first quarterback selected in April hit the microphones Friday morning with hordes of media surrounding them.Jalen Milroe on potential 'outstanding' reunion with Browns OC Tommy Rees, doing 'special things' and Lamar Jackson comparisonAs Sanders stood at podium No. 8 smiling and laughing during the 15-minute interview, Miami's Cam Ward was two podiums and 25 yards away. The tone was more serious as he explained his five-year journey from being underrecruited and playing at Incarnate Word to the possible No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft.He will join Sanders in sitting out the combine workouts and waiting until their pro days to throw."I just think the five years of film says everything I can do," Ward said. "I just think me throwing here is not going to move me in no type of way. I just decided to throw at my pro day to the best receiving corps in the country."Miami QB Cam Ward on journey from Incarnate Word to possible No. 1 pick pic.twitter.com/Km77C6HLfT— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) February 28, 2025https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWard and Sanders are widely viewed as the draft's top quarterbacks and separated from the rest of the pack. With the No. 2 pick, the quarterback-needy Browns are guaranteed one if they desire.Depending on what the Titans do at No. 1, the Browns could have their choice of passers. They met with Ward and Sanders this week and will host them for predraft visits and attend the pro days."I'm really impressed by Cam, Shedeur," coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday.Ward doesn't think the Browns, who went 11-6 and made the playoffs in 2023, are far from again being a contender."It went real good being able to meet with the GM, finally meet the quarterback coach in person, the OC as well," Ward said. "They do an unbelievable job on offense getting people open. They've got an unbelievable offensive line. Jerry Jeudy's one of the best receivers in the league, so if I'm hoping to go there, I know it'll work out good."Zone Coverage PodcastWard won the 2024 Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback and set Miami season records for passing yards (4,313), touchdowns (39) and completion percentage (67.2) while throwing just seven interceptions. He has the stronger right arm and is a better runner than Sanders and isn't afraid to hang in the pocket and throw into tight windows downfield."My best trait is winning from the pocket and I got better at that over my years of college," said Ward, who played two years at Incarnate Word and two at Washington State before a final season at Miami. "And at the end of the day as a quarterback, you can't rely on scramble drill and having to win out of structure, because if you can't win in the pocket you'll never be successful."Sanders completed 74 percent in 2024 for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His career 71.8 completion percentage is the Division I record, according to sports-reference.com. He acknowledged he doesn't have an elite arm or athleticism."I'm most proud about my mental," he said. "I know nothing can faze me, no pressure, no situation. These cameras, nothing fazed me. I grew up with it."My game's not played for my legs, and not even just my arm. What's Tom Brady best trait? His mental, he's able to think. So if you have those traits of greatness, and I know where I'm heading, then why wouldn't the franchise pick me? You got the ultimate cheat code."Sanders and Ward are friends and have joked about who's going to be picked first."It really don't mean nothing," Ward said. "The draft pick will never mean anything. At the end of the day, you've got to show whether you can prove it each and every Sunday. You've got to do it every time you step on the field."I think we'll both end up being one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I just think the work that me and him are willing to put in, the relationship we have to constantly compete each and every day to better our craft for ourselves, I just think it's going to end up paying off for us in the long run."Miami QB Cam Ward on his leadership style. pic.twitter.com/V92mgfwhC0— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) February 28, 2025https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsSanders declined to discuss Ward when asked."I'm here to speak on myself," he said.He declared himself the top QB in the draft but complimented the class."I respect a lot of quarterbacks here," Sanders said. "They put a lot of hard work in to get to this point. So it's kudos to them. It's truly respect. But I know what I bring to the table."His dad is Deion, the Colorado coach, Pro Football Hall of Famer and lightning rod for opinions. Shedeur has been steeled by growing up a Sanders."You think I'm worried about what critics say or what people got to say. You know who my dad is?" he said. "They hated on him, too. So it's almost normal. Without people hating, it's not normal for us."So we like the adversity. We like everything that comes with the name. That's why we are who we are."Adversity is baked into playing for the Browns.The post Shedeur Sanders confident he can turn around Browns; Cam Ward knows 'it'll work out good' if drafted by Cleveland first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.