The Opening Drive 11/25: Things I Think I Know About The Browns - Sanders, Sampson, Maliek and Mason Plus Browns Wide Receivers

Some Things I Think I Know after the Browns win in Las Vegas.

Nov 25, 2025

Shedeur Sanders’ first NFL start was never going to be graded on traditional metrics. The Browns weren’t looking for a flawless debut, a gaudy box score, or immediate stardom. What they needed was some clarity, signs of poise, processing, and growth that could justify rolling with him again. And in that sense, Sanders delivered. His performance wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t need to be. What Sanders showed on Sunday was enough to earn another start, even with the powerhouse San Francisco 49ers looming on the schedule.

Poise

The first thing that stood out was how unbothered Sanders looked by the moment. He wasn’t rattled by pressure. He didn’t panic when reads weren’t immediately there. He operated with the calm demeanor you expect from a veteran, not a rookie stepping into a battered offense that has struggled with rhythm all season. Even when the protection faltered — which it did far too often — Sanders kept his mechanics intact. He got the ball out on time and avoided the back-breaking mistakes that have plagued the Browns’ quarterback room all year.

NFL-Level Pocket Behavior

For all the concerns about his Colorado tape — the heavy shotgun usage, the spread spacing, the question of how he’d function in a muddier NFL pocket — Sanders’ pocket behavior in his first start was a legitimate bright spot. He slid, reset, climbed, and kept his base under him. When the first read wasn’t there, he didn’t immediately default to fading backwards or bailing out of structure.

Toughness

Sanders’ toughness stood out above all else. He took hits, stood in against pressure, and kept his eyes downfield. It was the same trait he showed in college when he was pressured more than almost any Power Five quarterback — and survived it. You can teach a lot of things, but toughness, you either have it or you don’t. Sanders has it.

The Browns aren’t turning to Sanders because he lit up the stat sheet. They’re turning to him because he stabilized an offense that’s been unstable for months. He gave them something to build on. He showed traits that translate, poise, pocket feel, accuracy in structure, and mental resilience. Things only get tougher from here, though, as they get the 49ers next week, which will bring a whole new set of challenges.

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Isaiah McGuire’s Future

Isaiah McGuire was terrific on Sunday, creating nine pressures and six hurries by himself. With newly extended Alex Wright sidelined, McGuire seized the opportunity and played like a future cornerstone. His motor never stopped, his leverage was outstanding, and he consistently won one-on-one matchups that swung drives in the Browns’ favor. McGuire didn’t just hold down the edge in Wright’s absence, he excelled and is putting himself in line to receive a similar payday as Wright this time next year.

Keep Maliek Collins and Mason Graham Together

Maliek Collins and Mason Graham returning next season gives the Browns’ defensive front a real chance to continue being a problem for opponents. Collins remains one of the league’s more underrated interior disruptors, quick off the ball, violent with his hands, and consistently capable of collapsing pockets from the inside. Graham, meanwhile, brings the power, leverage, and run-stopping discipline that stabilizes the middle of a defense. Pairing those two with the emerging young edge talent already on the roster means the Browns won’t just be deep, they’ll be dangerous. With Graham learning from Collins and combining forces this season, the Browns’ defense front will have the kind of continuity and ascending talent that makes for a special defensive front now and in 2026.

Why Dylan Sampson Needs 8–10 Touches Per Game

Dylan Sampson needs 8–10 touches every week, and the tape makes the argument for him. He’s one of the few true space-creators in this offense, a back who forces defenses to respect the edge, widens fronts, and injects instant explosiveness into drives that otherwise feel methodical and predictable. Every time he touches the ball, the tempo changes. The defense has to account for his burst, his acceleration through arm tackles, and the way he turns simple perimeter concepts into chunk plays. He is a necessary ingredient for an offense that has struggled to manufacture easy yards.

The Browns don’t need Sampson to be a volume back; they need him to be a weapon. Eight to ten touches is the sweet spot where his speed becomes a multiplier without asking him to grind between the tackles 20 times a game. He’s the kind of player who can flip field position, bail out stalled possessions, and punish defenses that overcommit to stopping the inside run. Limiting him is limiting the offense’s ceiling. The Browns’ staff has to make a commitment to giving him consistent touches every week.

Wide Receivers Must Give Better Effort

The wide receivers have to be better. Too many routes are dying early, too many reps are being taken off, and too many catchable balls are going unchallenged. This offense can’t function when the quarterback is forced to be perfect while receivers give anything less than maximum effort. NFL passing games thrive on trust and timing. The trust that a receiver will finish his stem, fight through contact, and give the quarterback a clean window to throw into. Right now, that trust isn’t there, and until that changes, the offense is leaving yards, first downs, and points on the field.

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