SHEDEUR SANDERS’ DRAFT SLIDE AND THE BROWNS’ BOLD QB GAMBLE
Ajay Allen - April 27, 2025
The Cleveland Browns turned heads at the 2025 NFL Draft - and not for the reasons that anyone might have seen coming.
Already heading into the draft with a full quarterback room featuring Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, and Joe Flacco, Cleveland still made a bold move by selecting two more: Dillon Gabriel from Oregon and Shedeur Sanders from Colorado. The move left many wondering: what exactly are the Browns planning?
Gabriel, fresh off a productive season at Oregon, threw for over 3,800 yards, 30 touchdowns, and completed 72.9% of his passes in 2024. He was the first QB Cleveland snagged off the board.
But the real headline? Shedeur Sanders, a player many expected to be taken before Gabriel, somehow slipped deep into the draft. Sanders had one of the most eye popping seasons in college football last year, piling up over 4,100 yards, 37 touchdowns, and a 74% completion rate at Colorado. For months, he was viewed as a potential early round lock, yet somehow, team after team passed on him.
Why did Sanders fall so dramatically? Was it his playing style? Concerns about his transition to the pro game? Or was it simply the politics of the draft? No matter the reason, Cleveland saw an opportunity and capitalized without having to spend a premium pick.
After Sanders was finally selected, the NFL’s official social media account pinned his draft post at the very top of their page, a move that instantly had fans and insiders asking questions. Why pin a fifth-round pick over top 10 selections and Heisman finalists? It only fueled the mystery around Sanders' slide, as many began wondering if there was more going on behind the scenes. Adding even more drama, earlier in the draft, Sanders was prank called live during his own livestream. He believed he was talking to New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, but it turned out to be a prank call with the caller saying, “you’re gonna have to wait a little bit longer now” referring to getting picked in the draft. This left Sanders and family members who overheard stunned.
The number used was supposed to be private, only accessible to NFL executives, raising major concerns about how it got leaked. The NFL has since announced that they are launching an investigation into the incident to figure out how it happened, and who might have been responsible.
Now, Cleveland finds itself with five quarterbacks, something almost unheard of in the NFL. With Watson as the presumed starter and Pickett and Flacco serving as veterans, it’s hard to picture both Gabriel and Sanders remaining on the roster without a deeper motive.
Which leads to the bigger question: did the Browns just draft trade bait?
Stacking two promising quarterbacks onto a crowded depth chart could be Cleveland’s way of building up assets for future moves. One of these young QBs could eventually be flipped for higher draft capital or packaged in a deal to fill another need. With the way the quarterback market works, all it takes is one team desperate for a fresh face under center to start making calls.
Whether Gabriel or Sanders ends up being part of Cleveland’s long term plan or becomes a valuable trade piece down the line, one thing is clear — the Browns didn’t just draft two quarterbacks to sit on the bench. They drafted them because they see the board a few moves ahead.
