The Cleveland Browns had more competition in the draft for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders than previously known — considerably more, in fact.
Some NFL analysts speculated that if Cleveland hadn’t traded up in Round 5, Sanders may have gone un-drafted entirely, despite entering the draft process as a potential first-round pick — or even a top 1o overall prospect.
However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported ahead of the Browns’ Week 2 matchup in Baltimore that the Ravens were interested in Sanders as a backup to Lamar Jackson. Then, on Monday, September 22, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders revealed that the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles also had designs on adding his son to their roster back in April.
Deion Sanders made that revelation during an appearance on the “New Heights” podcast, hosted by Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce.
How in the world did they make a big deal out of this? Philly called us on draft day, they didn’t mention that. I just let a cat out of the bag. … I played for Baltimore so me an Ozzie [Newsome] are cool. So he wanted to talk to Shedeur ,as well as he wanted to talk to me.
So I put Shedeur on the phone, and I don’t want to say how it went, but how in the world can somebody fault him for saying or thinking, “Why in the world would I go back up Lamar [Jackson] for 10 more years?” Like, who comes in with that mindset?
Shedeur Sanders Caught Criticism From NFL Analysts for Choosing Browns Over Ravens
GettyCleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Deion Sanders was referencing reaction to Schefter’s initial report, which included the response to Baltimore’s interest from the Sanders camp.
“[Shedeur] Sanders knew that Jackson, a two-time MVP and one of the top players in the league, was not going to be losing his job as Baltimore’s starting quarterback anytime soon,” Schefter wrote on September 13. “So the message was conveyed to the Ravens that Sanders did not want to be drafted by Baltimore and preferred to end up in a place where he might have a better chance to play sooner.”
Shedeur Sanders caught heat around the league for spurning an organization that could have perhaps more adequately prepared him for his NFL future via practice development. Former professional signal-caller turned broadcaster Alex Smith was among the most prominent critics of the young QB.
“I think this is insane. If this is true, I think this is crazy,” Smith said during the September 14 edition of ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’ on ESPN. “If you’re in this situation, you want to go to an organization that is going to develop you. Here you have the Baltimore Ravens, [and they] are the model of stability in the NFL. This regime has been together for how many decades now? Track record of developing quarterbacks — Joe Flacco, Lamar [Jackson]. Instead, you choose the Cleveland Browns because you think you have a chance to start the next year.”
Had Shedeur Sanders landed with the Eagles, he would most certainly be playing behind starter Jalen Hurts and would likely also be slotted in as QB3 behind backup Tanner McKee (currently out with a broken thumb), who several prominent insiders believe has a long future as a starting NFL quarterback in front of him.
Shedeur Sanders Ready, Waiting Patiently for Chance to Play for Browns
GettyCleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Shedeur Sanders hasn’t started, or even played yet, this season, and has actually been QB3 through the first three games. He is the team’s emergency quarterback, though he has technically been inactive since the year officially began earlier this month.
He is playing behind Flacco, who will start his fourth game of the year next week against the Detroit Lions, and fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who won the backup QB job during the preseason.
For his part, Shedeur Sanders has been mature and positive about his experience with the Browns thus far, saying he is soaking up everything he can and is ready for his chance to play — whenever that comes.
“Everything we do in this building, it’s a learning thing. It’s learning every day. I’m in a great position to be sitting back, understanding the game plan, understanding everything that the NFL is,” Sanders told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com for a story that ran Sunday. “I’m ready for my opportunity whenever that happens. But in this time that I’m not out there physically playing, I would say I’m growing everywhere.”
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