Cleveland Browns make first Shedeur Sanders move after $125M setback

The Cleveland Browns have already met with NFL Draft target Shedeur Sanders as the franchise considers Myles Garrett's future.

The Browns have experienced a bumpy offseason already. Cleveland failed to improve on their 11-6 record from 2023 and finished with a 3-14 record, struggling with Deshaun Watson’s form before the quarterback suffered a season-ending torn Achilles.

Last week, the Browns were rocked by 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Garrett requesting a trade. The 29-year-old - who signed a five-year, $125 million contract in 2020 - has been with the team since he was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, but he is looking to win now - and the Browns are in a rebuild.

Cleveland holds the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and the AFC North franchise is looking toward the future. With Watson suffering a setback in his rehabilitation that could see him ruled out of 2025 already, the Browns are set to take advantage of their high spot on the draft order by moving for a quarterback.

Sanders is projected to come off the board early. Alongside Florida’s Cam Ward, the 22-year-old represents the most intriguing quarterback prospect on offer after winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is given annually to the nation's top upperclassman quarterback in college football, as well as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award.

Across the 2024 season with Colorado, Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns with 10 interceptions on a nation-leading 74.2 percent completion rate. The Browns like what they see; they are reportedly being the first team to schedule a meeting with Sanders for the NFL Combine, and will be the first team he meets with.

Sanders confirmed that his first stop on the pre-draft circuit will be Cleveland in a recent behind-the-scenes clip from Colorado’s weight room. He said: “Browns. I have the Browns, then the Giants. That’s the only two right now.”

At the East-West Shrine Bowl, the 23-year-old met with the three teams in the top 3 - the Tennessee Titans, Browns, and New York Giants. Browns general manager Andrew Barry spoke highly of Sanders, saying: “Shedeur is a really impressive young man. He’s poised, he’s calm, he’s smart and you can tell that he’s been raised by – quite honestly – a Hall of Fame dad.”

If the Browns had the opportunity to take Sanders, the soon-to-be rookie would not be short of weapons. Cleveland has stud running back Nick Chubb along with tight end David Njoku and receivers Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore as weapons in the passing game. The Browns will meet with Sanders at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, which begins on February 25.