Shedeur Sanders entered the 2024 college football season with a target on his back and the full glare of national attention thanks to the high-profile persona of his father, Deion Sanders, and a stellar individual season at Colorado. Now, as training camps around the league heat up, Shedeur’s name continues to generate buzz — not just because of his college résumé, but due to ongoing discussions about his NFL future. Among the teams linked with long-term quarterback questions, the Cleveland Browns have routinely surfaced in speculative circles. But according to a prominent NFL analyst, Shedeur Sanders may have just received a reality check that could shift the trajectory of his early professional prospects. The latest intel on the Browns’ quarterback situation suggests that any notion of Cleveland targeting Sanders in the near future is more wishful thinking than grounded analysis.
The core of the report from this analyst — a respected name in scouting circles who has been tied closely to the AFC North for years — centers around how the Browns internally view their current quarterback options. Contrary to whispers that the Browns are potentially eyeing Sanders as their next franchise quarterback, the team reportedly feels increasingly confident in the direction they’re heading at QB1. In fact, the Browns are optimistic that their incumbent signal-caller, whether it be Deshaun Watson returning to form or an emergent challenger pushing for the job, will stabilize the offense in 2025 and beyond. This revelation throws cold water on the speculation that Shedeur Sanders is on Cleveland’s draft radar in any meaningful way.
Part of the reason this intel lands as such a blow to Shedeur’s NFL momentum is that the Browns were among a short list of franchises that appeared quarterback-hungry entering the season. Deshaun Watson’s tenure in Cleveland has been riddled with injury concerns, inconsistency, and lingering questions about durability and leadership. Many draft observers had pegged the Browns as a logical destination for a quarterback of Sanders’ profile — polished, confident, mobile, and possessing a strong command of the pocket. Yet this recent intel implies that Cleveland is not preparing to hit the quarterback reset button, at least not through the draft, and certainly not by selecting Shedeur Sanders in a top slot.
That doesn’t mean Shedeur is falling out of favor with evaluators around the league. On the contrary, most analysts still view him as one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects in the 2025 class. But this latest twist in Cleveland’s internal discussions paints a picture that is becoming increasingly clear — Sanders may not be viewed as a guaranteed day-one starter in the NFL, and teams like the Browns are recalibrating their priorities based on different factors. Among them: familiarity with system, injury risk tolerance, cap hit calculations, and whether or not a rookie quarterback — no matter how hyped — is ready to lead a playoff-caliber roster.
Cleveland, in particular, believes that they are not as far from contention as outsiders may assume. Their defense, loaded with playmakers like Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, has the foundation of a top-five unit. With weapons like Amari Cooper, David Njoku, and a returning Nick Chubb (presumably healthy), the offense just needs a competent, steady hand at quarterback to tie everything together. And this is where Shedeur’s situation becomes complicated. The Browns, according to the latest intel, are hesitant to hand the keys of a playoff-ready roster to a rookie quarterback still learning the speed of the NFL. That hesitancy, while logical, is also a direct hit to Sanders’ trajectory.
There is also a growing sentiment in front office circles that the media hype around Shedeur Sanders — driven in no small part by Deion’s high-profile brand — might actually be working against him when it comes to teams doing their evaluations. Some scouts reportedly fear that drafting Shedeur might mean also bringing a media circus with them. While that concern is not unique to Sanders, it’s one that looms particularly large given the non-stop attention that surrounded Colorado’s football program last season. Shedeur’s leadership, film study, and growth are not in doubt; but there are persistent questions about how well his style and profile translate to an NFL locker room — especially one as high-pressure and spotlight-heavy as Cleveland’s has become.
Adding another layer to this story is how strong the Browns’ internal confidence is in their current quarterback room. The analyst points to reports that head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry are both bullish on the progress being made by Watson behind the scenes. Despite missing much of the 2023 and 2024 seasons with various ailments, Watson has reportedly taken on a leadership role in meetings, dedicated himself to offseason recovery and chemistry-building, and returned to camp with a noticeably better command of the offense. Whether or not Watson returns to his Pro Bowl form is yet to be seen, but the Browns’ leadership is clearly not in panic mode. This vote of confidence in Watson or another internal option deals a significant blow to the idea that Shedeur Sanders would be a savior-type pick for the franchise.
Of course, in the NFL, plans change quickly. Injuries, suspensions, or major regression from key players can shift a team’s philosophy overnight. But for now, the idea that the Browns are actively targeting a high-profile quarterback like Sanders in the next draft appears to be misguided. Instead, they may be more interested in fortifying the offensive line, adding depth at receiver, or shoring up defensive depth — all things that could support a returning Watson rather than necessitate a new QB1.
From Shedeur’s perspective, this development serves as both a disappointment and a challenge. It is a disappointment because the Browns represented one of the more plausible landing spots where he could start early and grow with a solid roster. But it is also a challenge because it underscores how narrow the path is for rookie quarterbacks in today’s NFL. It is no longer enough to be highly productive in college — prospects must prove they are ready for immediate responsibility, that they can shoulder franchise expectations, and that they don’t come with any baggage that might distract or derail a team’s focus.
Shedeur Sanders has the skill set to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. His arm talent, pocket presence, and leadership tools are real. But with every new scouting update, it becomes more evident that he is not immune to the same evaluations, projections, and risk assessments that govern every prospect’s draft stock. This latest intel from Cleveland, while just one data point, is a sobering reminder that name recognition and collegiate stats won’t necessarily guarantee a smooth path to the pros. NFL front offices are doing their homework, watching tape, and weighing intangibles carefully. And in the case of the Browns, it appears that their current outlook does not include Shedeur Sanders.
Whether that remains true a month from now is anyone’s guess. One bad preseason performance from Watson or a sudden injury could send Cleveland scrambling back to the draft board with a very different perspective. But if the current reports hold, Sanders would be wise to start considering other suitors — ones with rosters less ready for contention, and thus more willing to ride the highs and lows of a rookie campaign. He may still go high in the draft. He may even wind up with a better situation long-term than what Cleveland could have offered. But for now, the Browns are no longer the soft landing spot they once seemed to be.
