The Cleveland Browns’ decision to draft Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the NFL Draft in April came as a surprise to many, with his slide down the board described as one of the most unexpected in recent memory. According to Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Eric Dickerson, this result was influenced by instructions from league officials.
“The NFL told teams, ‘Do not draft him. We’re gonna make an example out of him,’ (…) This came from a very good source. A very good source. And he said somebody called the Cleveland Browns and said, ‘Don’t do that. Don’t draft him,’” Dickerson said.
Despite facing skepticism before and after being drafted, Sanders has actively engaged with the Cleveland community during his rookie offseason—a rare move for someone so early in their career.
“I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never seen what Shedeur Sanders is doing this early on in a player’s career (…) I’ve never seen that before, I’ve never seen a rookie come into the league and before he even played a snap is already in the Garden Valley Projects … All the things he’s doing (in the community). It’s a special thing he’s doing, that’s not normal,” Cecil Shorts said on Cleveland’s 92.3 The Fan.
There remains uncertainty regarding Sanders’ future on the team as roster cuts approach.
“The rookie that they would probably get rid of would be the one they took in the 5th round,” CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco wrote.
If released, some believe it could have significant repercussions for both fans and team morale.
“It would be the most demoralizing thing. The season…it would be shot before it even started. A lot of fans have invested a lot of time, a lot of energy,” 92.3 The Fan’s Jonathan Peterlin wrote.
With strong community involvement but questions about his role on the field, Sanders’ status with Cleveland will remain closely watched during final roster decisions.
