Former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum hints at Dillon Gabriel getting more snaps after Shedeur Sanders speeding stop

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was pulled over at approximately 12:24 a.m. June 17 in Strongsville, Ohio, and given a citation for driving 101 mph — 41 mph over the posted speed limit. ESPN reported Thursday that Sanders was pulled over June 5 in Brunswick Hills, Ohio, for driving 91 mph in a 65-mph zone. 

Sanders received a citation for that incident and failed to appear for Monday’s arraignment. He faces $269 in fines and court costs. How could this affect his chances of winning Cleveland’s quarterback competition? Former NFL general manager and current ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum believes it’s possible that head coach Kevin Stefanski gives more reps to Dillon Gabriel in training camp. The Browns selected Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft before taking Sanders in the fifth.

Mike Tannenbaum reacts to Shedeur Sanders speeding incident

“When we bring him in, as the head coach or the quarterback, you are the most important employee of a $6 billion enterprise and how you handle things on and off the field matter. Mark Schlereth used to say, ‘Preseason games — they don’t count but they matter and how you comport yourself off the field matters.’ To have this happen twice would be a concern,” Tannenbaum said on Friday’s Get Up. “It’s not the end of the road but let me bring you into what typically happens at this time of the year. You set your roster and your initial sort of reps for training camp.

“If you’re sitting there in Cleveland and they’re saying that Dillon Gabriel is a third-round pick, he’s done well, Shedeur Sanders has done well on the field, but he’s had these two issues off the field, albeit minor, they’ll give more reps to Dillon Gabriel. Remember, every general manager has one formula on their board: production equals tolerance. He’s a fifth-round pick. He has not produced yet.”

Details emerge of Shedeur Sanders speeding incident

Earlier in the day on Thursday, body cam footage surfaced from Sanders’ alleged June 17 speeding incident. The video revealed Sanders was pulled over along with another woman, who was reportedly driving 92 mph.

In the video, the police officer asks for Sanders’ identifying information. The officer seemingly notes that Sanders’ vehicle has Colorado tags despite Sanders’ license being from Mississippi. The conversation seemed cordial and neither party raised their voices.

Viewed as a potential first-round pick, Sanders fell down the board before Cleveland selected him as the No. 155 overall pick in the draft. This past season at Colorado, Sanders put together a standout year to help lead the Buffaloes’ impressive turnaround. He led the nation with a 74% completion percentage as he totaled 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns.

Sanders is competing for the QB1 job in Cleveland alongside Gabriel, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Stefanski is pleased with the progress both Sanders and Gabriel have made.

“Those guys are doing great,” Stefanski said earlier this month. “They are both wired to get in early, stay late, put in whatever work is required. They’re sponges in the meeting room, which I think is really fun for me. In my vantage point, I get to sit there and watch the two young guys look over and there’s Joe, 40 years old, won a Super Bowl. There’s Kenny Pickett, just going into Year 4. But first-round draft pick that’s been on a couple teams, won a Super Bowl last year.

“There’s Deshaun [Watson], had a ton of success in his career. They can kind of feed off of all those guys. So that’s the thing, it’s fun for me to watch them get better sometimes just by listening.”