Cleveland Browns Proprietor Jimmy Haslam: Drafting Shedeur Sanders Wasn’t My Resolution

The Cleveland Browns did what all NFL groups do once they draft a quarterback and have three succesful signal-callers on their lively roster: take one other one in the identical draft.

Nicely, that is really not what usually occurs, however seeing worth within the transfer, Cleveland traded up for the No. 144 choose within the 2025 NFL Draft to pick out Colorado quarterback and 2024 Huge 12 Offensive Participant of the 12 months Shedeur Sanders. This got here after the Browns had already chosen Oregon quarterback and 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist Dillon Gabriel with the No. 94 choose.

Sanders’ choice raised eyebrows, and questions have persevered concerning whether or not Browns Govt Vice President of Soccer Operations Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski needed Sanders, or if proprietor Jimmy Haslam beneficial them to draft him. The latter concept was fueled by the stay response to the choose in Cleveland’s battle room, displaying Berry and Stefanski showing to be dissatisfied after the choose was introduced.

Haslem clarified his function in drafting Sanders on Tuesday.

“In case you would’ve informed me on Friday evening as I used to be driving dwelling that we had been going to take Shedeur, I might’ve stated that is not taking place, however we had a dialog early that morning [Day 3 of the draft], and we had a dialog later that day. I believe we had the correct folks concerned within the dialog. On the finish of the day, that is Andrew Berry’s name. Andrew made the decision to select Shedeur,” Haslam stated at coaching camp on Tuesday concerning the Browns drafting Sanders, in keeping with Cleveland.com. “Identical to who’s going to begin or what play we’ll name is Kevin’s name. That is Andrew’s name. He made the decision.”

Sanders was broadly considered a first-round expertise, with the quarterback going undrafted on Days 1 and a pair of turning into one of many essential speaking factors of the draft.

In his senior season at Colorado (2024), Sanders totaled 4,134 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 168.2 passer ranking, whereas finishing 74.0% of his passes. Sanders led the Huge 12 in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passer ranking and completion share. 

As for the remainder of its quarterback room, Cleveland traded for quarterback Kenny Pickett in March and reunited with veteran Joe Flacco — who performed for the Browns in 2023 — in free company. Deshaun Watson is predicted to overlook the 2025 season because of a torn Achilles tendon.

Whereas Flacco is the secure guess to win the beginning job given his familiarity with Stefanksi’s offense, the Browns have not introduced their Week 1 quarterback. Cleveland opens the 2025 preseason on the highway in opposition to the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8.

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