When the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft rolled around, the Baltimore Ravens decided it was time to end Shedeur Sanders’ fall. The Ravens reportedly wanted to select Sanders in the fifth round, but the quarterback said no, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Ravens — who held the third pick in the fifth round — reportedly planned to use that pick on Sanders. But before the team could turn in the card announcing Sanders, the Colorado quarterback informed the team he did not want to play on a roster where he would have no shot at playing time, per Schefter.
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With Lamar Jackson entrenched as the team’s starter, Sanders wasn’t going to see the field unless an injury struck. And even then, Sanders — no matter how well he played — wasn’t going to overtake Jackson for the starting role. Because of that, Sanders didn’t want to join the Ravens.
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He got his wish. Three picks later, the Cleveland Browns selected Sanders, ending his slide. He opened the 2025 NFL season as the team’s third quarterback, behind Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.
While Sanders has to work his way up the team’s depth chart, a starting role is much closer in Cleveland. Flacco has experienced a nice second act in recent seasons, but he’s 40 years old. If he struggles or the team falls out of the playoff hunt, the Browns will likely look to the future and bench Flacco.
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In order for Sanders to start, however, he would still have to beat out Gabriel. Both players showed flashes of excellence in the preseason, but Gabriel’s performance in the final preseason game cemented him as the No. 2 quarterback behind Flacco.
Prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, many talent evaluators listed Sanders as the better prospect. NFL teams acted differently, leading to Sanders’ free fall in the draft. After a few weeks of practices, the Browns believe Gabriel is the better player right now. That could change during the season, or if Gabriel struggles once he assumes the starting role.
If Sanders cared about only playing time, he probably made the right call. His path to a starting role is much clearer in Cleveland. But there might have been value in Sanders going to Baltimore. The Ravens are thought of as a much more stable organization and John Harbaugh is among the best head coaches in the NFL. Sanders may not have played much with the team, but it might have proved to be a better destination for his development.
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Instead, Sanders finds himself with an organization desperate for stability at quarterback. The payoff could be huge if Sanders excels once he gets his chance. But if he fails, it will be an all too familiar story in Cleveland.