The Cleveland Browns took an interesting approach in this past NFL Draft. The front office made the unconventional decision to select two running backs and two quarterbacks—an uncommon tactic in today’s league. Nevertheless, they went through with it, and as a result, they’ll head into training camp with five quarterbacks on the roster.
Shedeur Sanders was one of the quarterbacks the Browns selected, but he unexpectedly fell to the third day of the draft. His slide surprised many and has been attributed in part to his family’s handling of the pre-draft process, which may have ultimately worked against him.
“Shedeur and his family, they overplayed their hand,” Cris Carter said. “Them thinking that he was in the same evaluation mode as Eli Manning, they didn’t play that right. Them trying to narrow the teams that he was going to go to, that didn’t do right.”
There were also accusations that Sanders deliberately underperformed in interviews with teams he wasn’t interested in joining.
“At some of those [combine] meetings with certain teams that maybe Shedeur Sanders didn’t really want to go to… I was told that he more or less sandbagged in those interviews,” Jonathan Jones reported.
Sanders is not expected to be the Browns’ starter this season. And even if he somehow lands the QB1 role, it’s unlikely to last beyond the year. Cleveland could look to draft Clemson’s Cade Klubnik next season.
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Despite being buried on the depth chart, Robert Griffin III believes Sanders is still the most significant name in the Browns’ quarterback room.
“The Cleveland Browns headliner is their 4th QB on the roster who will get the least amount of reps and opportunity in the group. That’s a set up for dysfunction. That’s the Browns,” Griffin wrote.
The former NFL quarterback isn’t wrong—Sanders is the most talked-about player on the team. He certainly has a compelling case as a highly talented prospect who could eventually lead Cleveland, but it looks like he won’t get that opportunity anytime soon.
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