Cleveland Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam: Drafting Shedeur Sanders Wasn’t My Decision

The Cleveland Browns did what all NFL teams do when they draft a quarterback and have three capable signal-callers on their active roster: take another one in the same draft.

Well, that’s actually not what typically happens, but seeing value in the move, Cleveland traded up for the No. 144 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Colorado quarterback and 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Shedeur Sanders. This came after the Browns had already selected Oregon quarterback and 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist Dillon Gabriel with the No. 94 pick.

Sanders’ selection raised eyebrows, and questions have persisted regarding whether Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski wanted Sanders, or if owner Jimmy Haslam recommended them to draft him. The latter theory was fueled by the live reaction to the pick in Cleveland’s war room, showing Berry and Stefanski appearing to be dissatisfied after the pick was announced.

Haslam clarified his role in drafting Sanders on Tuesday.

“If you would’ve told me on Friday night as I was driving home that we were going to take Shedeur, I would’ve said that’s not happening, but we had a conversation early that morning [Day 3 of the draft], and we had a dialog later that day. I believe we had the correct individuals 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 in regards to the Browns drafting Sanders, according to Cleveland.com. “Similar to who’s going to start out or what play we’ll name is Kevin’s name. That is Andrew’s name. He made the decision.”

Sanders was broadly thought to be a first-round expertise, with the quarterback going undrafted on Days 1 and a couple of changing into one of many primary 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 Massive 12 in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passer ranking and completion proportion. 

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 as a consequence of a torn Achilles tendon.

Whereas Flacco is the protected wager 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 street in opposition to the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8.

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