An NFL Hall of Famer says that the league wanted to prove a point with Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, telling teams not to draft the former Colorado star.
Sanders’ draft tumble has been well documented. Many had Sanders projected to go early in the first round. However, he tumbled to the fifth round, where the Browns selected him with pick No. 144.
During an appearance on the “Roggin and Rodney Show” on AM 570 LA Sports, four-time rushing leader Eric Dickerson said he heard from a “very good source” that there was a directive from the NFL for teams to stay away from Sanders.
“I tell you this much, what I heard from someone that’s in the NFL that the NFL told [teams] don’t draft him, do not draft him,” Dickerson said. “We’re going to make an example out of him. And this came from a very good source, a very good source.”
Dickerson took it a step further, saying the Browns were forced into taking Sanders in the fifth round.
“He said that – I won’t say who – somebody called the Cleveland Browns and said ‘don’t do that, draft him,’” Dickerson said. “Because they weren’t going to draft him either… They were forced into drafting him because somebody made a call to them.”
Breer: No Conspiracy With Shedeur Sanders
Prominent NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated was asked about Dickerson’s “reporting” while on the “Dan Patrick Show” and poured some cold water on the idea.
“Yeah. I always think these sorts of conspiracies are a little overdone. I don’t think there was any conspiracy here. It’s relatively simple what happened. I think the great majority of NFL teams did not view him as a first-round prospect, contrary to what had been out there for the year previous,” Breer said. “And then I think what happens is once you get past the first round, you look at the history over the years, not a lot of quarterbacks go in the second or third rounds…”
It was a curious decision for the Browns to draft Sanders, especially after already selecting Dillon Gabriel in the third round. The move has placed a national spotlight on Cleveland’s crowded quarterback room and stirred controversy, particularly following Sanders’ breakout preseason debut in the preseason when he passed for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
Cleveland traded up to select Sanders. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said the team’s decision to take Sanders was Andrew Berry’s idea.
“At the end of the day that’s Andrew Berry’s call. He made the call to pick Shedeur,” Haslam said. “That’s Andrew’s call. He made the call.”
Browns Rookie Shedeur Sanders Keeps Perspective
It’s been an interesting journey for Sanders so far. But he’s mostly done all the right things since landing with the Browns, keeping his situation in perspective and remaining patient.
The Browns recently named Joe Flacco as their Week 1 starter. Cleveland has yet to reveal the rest of their depth chart. Kenny Pickett and Gabriel are also in the mix.
“Oh, honestly, bro, I really don’t look into that. I don’t care. Whenever it’s time for me to get out there and play, I’mma play,” Sanders said on Thursday. “Whenever it’s time for the lights to come on, I’m gonna do my thing. I’m not concerned about when it is. I’m not concerned about, you know, how many reps I’m getting at this point, it is what it is because I know when the lights come on, when everything going, when the pressure’s on, you know who I am and I’ll always be that way.”
Cleveland opens its season on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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