One of many surprising slides in NFL draft historical past ended within the fifth spherical because the Cleveland Browns traded their 166th and 192nd picks to the Seattle Seahawks to pick out Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the 144th general selection on Saturday.
The choice marked the tip of a free fall that noticed Sanders, who was thought to be one of many high quarterbacks within the class, go from a possible first-round decide to a Day 3 choice. The Browns spent intensive time with Sanders by the predraft course of — a big contingent of Browns coaches, execs and the possession group traveled to Boulder, Colorado, to have dinner with him and former teammate Travis Hunter the night time earlier than their professional day exercise — and he now lands in Cleveland, although a lot later than many envisioned.
Sanders’ arrival comes at an inflection level for the Browns’ franchise. Final month, proprietor Jimmy Haslam known as the group’s 2022 commerce for quarterback Deshaun Watson, which price Cleveland three first-rounders and a fully-guaranteed $230 million contract, a “large swing-and-miss.” It marked the primary time anybody throughout the group publicly acknowledged that the commerce failed, regardless of three seasons of proof on the sector. Watson has been one of many league’s worst quarterbacks since arriving in Cleveland and is anticipated to overlook a good portion of the 2025 season with a proper Achilles damage that ended his 2024 marketing campaign and which he re-tore within the offseason.
Sanders can be the second quarterback the Browns have taken within the 2025 draft, following the number of Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel within the third spherical. Sanders joins a reworked quarterback room that additionally consists of Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, each of whom had been added this offseason.
Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi solutions the most important questions surrounding the group’s resolution to take a second quarterback within the draft. Plus, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler shares league intel on what led to the slide and draft analyst Steve Muench breaks down Sanders’ taking part in fashion.
Why did the Browns choose Sanders after drafting Gabriel?
Choosing Gabriel over Sanders within the third spherical was a widespread shock however the Browns buying and selling as much as take Sanders two rounds later usurped that. To common supervisor Andrew Berry, it got here right down to maximizing worth with a decide on the sport’s most essential place. Berry on Saturday acknowledged that he did not enter the draft anticipating to take two quarterbacks however was versatile because it unfolded. Getting into Day 3, he had discussions together with his employees about the potential for focusing on Sanders if he continued to fall within the draft. After groups chosen a number of gamers whom the Browns had been fascinated about, Berry mentioned he finally determined there was an excessive amount of worth in deciding on Sanders to cross up.
“As soon as it received to some extent the place it felt prefer it was a reasonably steep low cost, we simply felt like, particularly relative to the choice ways in which we may use this choice, this made essentially the most sense,” Berry mentioned. — Oyefusi
What induced Sanders’ slide within the draft?
Sanders’ lack of top-end expertise left him with out an NFL house after Day 1. The slide out of Day 2 is more durable to elucidate. Clearly the league spoke: Groups had an issue with Sanders and all that encompasses his draft profile. Sure, whispers endured that his predraft course of didn’t go properly, significantly his interviews. However as just a few folks contained in the league have surmised, slides occur when expertise does not match or surpass potential drawbacks. Groups hate distractions. In the event that they felt Sanders’ presence can be one for no matter purpose, his skill on the subsequent degree wasn’t intoxicating sufficient to offset all of that. And, greater than that, this was a logistical subject. Three groups that made essentially the most sense — the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints — preferred different choices higher. As soon as the third spherical hit, there was a shortage of groups in want of a passer. — Fowler
What are folks across the league saying about Sanders’ slide?
That the fifth spherical for him is a bit ridiculous. Whereas many evaluators graded him as a Day 2 decide, I’ve talked to a number of personnel evaluators I belief who graded him as a late first-rounder. That is why they contemplate the Browns a great spot; they had been a group with out an unquestioned starter.
Stylistically, Sanders is a match for Stefanski’s offense. He can thrive off play motion. One problem for Sanders: The Browns drafted Gabriel two rounds forward of him. This all proves the skinny margins within the predraft course of. In what’s thought of a weaker quarterback class, perceptions assorted wildly by group. Quarterbacks can slip additional than different positions as a result of significance of match and fewer job alternatives. Couple that with a shaky predraft course of and that may price a proficient passer like Sanders. — Fowler
What are Sanders’ prospects for taking part in time in 2025?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned that anybody who’s added to the quarterback room will likely be anticipated to compete for beginning time. Sanders enters a four-man race with an skilled veteran in Flacco, a former first-round decide in Pickett and one other rookie adjusting to the professionals in Gabriel.
After a failed try final season to revamp the offense to higher match Watson, the Browns fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and promoted tight ends coach/passing sport specialist Tommy Rees to fill the emptiness. So, the group is rebuilding its scheme with a quartet of recent passers, though Flacco has familiarity with Stefanski from his stint late within the 2023 season, when he went 4-1 as a starter within the common season and helped information Cleveland again to the playoffs en path to Comeback Participant of the 12 months honors.
“Clearly chances are you’ll not divide [the practice reps] ’25, 25, 25,’ however we really feel actually assured that we’ll have a plan that’s truthful to every participant and truthful to the group as properly,” Stefanski mentioned. — Oyefusi
Does this formally shut the e-book on the Watson period in Cleveland?
The Browns have mentioned Watson’s well being standing makes his future unsure. There are two extra years remaining on his five-year contract and the Browns owe him $46 million in every of the subsequent two seasons. Nevertheless, the group has been working as if he won’t be obtainable for the 2025 season and its latest strikes spotlight an try to maneuver on on the quarterback place.
Watson will likely be on the roster for the 2025 season after which the group should decide on parting methods with him and coping with the monetary repercussions that include it. Releasing Watson after the 2025 season with a post-June-1 designation — a wage cap mechanism that enables groups to chop gamers and divide the remaining useless cap prices into two seasons — would depart the Browns with a $135 million useless cap cost that may very well be break up between the 2026 and 2027 seasons. For reference, the Denver Broncos took on an NFL-record $85 million useless cap hit for releasing quarterback Russell Wilson in March 2024. If the Browns parted methods with Watson after the 2026 season, the useless cash would drop to $53 million. — Oyefusi
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Shedeur Sanders elated after being drafted by Browns
Shedeur Sanders celebrates with household and associates after being chosen with the 144th decide by the Browns.
How essential is determining the QB scenario to Stefanski and Berry’s future?
It is paramount. After they arrived in 2020, the duo inherited quarterback Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 general decide within the 2018 draft, and developed him into a high quality starter who helped break the franchise’s 17-year playoff win drought. Nevertheless, the connection with the group soured, which led them to commerce for Watson; Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers months later.
Since then, eight completely different quarterbacks have began for the Browns, together with 4 in the course of the 2024 season. Berry and Stefanski got extensions final offseason for guiding Cleveland to the playoffs twice in 4 years and Haslam preached confidence in them regardless of a 3-14 end final season. He additionally took blame for the Watson transaction and mentioned he would not put stress on his decision-making tandem to drive a quarterback decide. However now they’ve two younger quarterbacks who may probably discover the franchise a solution on the place. Haslam has requested for persistence however mentioned he expects the group to compete in 2025. — Oyefusi
What are the Browns getting with Sanders on the sector?
Sanders is bodily and mentally powerful. He takes large hits to make performs and may elevate his sport in vital conditions. He held onto the ball too lengthy and tried to make an excessive amount of occur in 2024, however he has proven the power to get the ball out and decide defenses aside with brief to intermediate passes over the course of his profession. Sanders can throw receivers open, holding safeties together with his eyes and getting by his progressions given time and house. He retains his eyes downfield as he strikes across the pocket, and he makes off-platform throws. His arm is powerful sufficient to make each throw, and he can cross into tight home windows when he will get the ball out on time and with anticipation. He can also scramble for first downs. Stefanski has had success teaching correct quarterbacks like Case Keenum and Kirk Cousins prior to now. Gabriel and Sanders each match the mildew and may compete. — Muench
