Browns' Shedeur Sanders Pick Triggers Rumors of Conflict with Owner
One of the biggest blunders in recently NFL history came at the hands of the Cleveland Browns, when they traded for Deshaun Watson in 2022. The deal cost the Browns three first-rounders and a guaranteed $230 million contract, as well as plenty of off-the-field issues.
For the first time, Browns leadership acknowledged the miscue last month, when owner Jimmy Haslam came out and called it their "big swing-and-miss.''
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Haslam stuck his neck out and took blame for the Watson trade, and confirmed that he wouldn't put pressure on his decision-making tandem to force a quarterback pick.
Shadeur Sanders, Jimmy Haslam And The Cleveland BrownsTony Fisher
Entering the 2025 NFL Draft, general manager Andrew Berry said "Jimmy lets us do our jobs" of Haslam's approach.
The Browns have deployed eight different starting quarterbacks since Baker Mayfield's departure, including four just last season, and no clear franchise-level option remained entering last weekend. Haslam asked the fans for patience last month but said he expects the team to compete in 2025.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski landed his man in Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round with the No. 94 pick. However, he also landed another man - Shedeur Sanders, who the Browns picked just two rounds later.
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A large contingent of Browns officials, including coaches, executives and ownership traveled to Boulder one day prior to their Pro Day workout to meet with Sanders and his teammate Travis Hunter.
'Shedeur is a very, very impressive young man,' Kevin Stefanski said. 'Was raised the right way. Obviously, he's a heck of a football player.'
Berry said after the draft that Sanders' draft was "mis-priced" and believes he can outproduce his draft slot.
Yet, some are still wondering how hands-off Haslam was in the selection.
ProFootballTalk felt the video of the Browns selecting Sanders "suggested they were feeling something other than euphoric.''
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'Andrew Berry, the GM, did not look thrilled. And you can kind see a little bit of Jimmy Haslam. He wasn't jumping up and down. Kevin Stefanski had a little bit of a smile. The guy to the right of Stefanski seemed a little happier, but Andrew Berry didn't seem like a guy who just stumbled into a future franchise quarterback… So, Browns fans, do that split screen. Draft room? Maybe not thrilled. Your new quarterback? Seems to be thrilled.' Said the host.
NFL insider Benjamin Allbright further stirred the pot on his radio show.
"internal discussions in Cleveland about draft strategy not aligning across the board,' especially regarding quarterback prospects. Allbright noted, 'There was definitely a split in the room—some were higher on other options, but when ownership speaks, decisions tend to follow,' Allbright said.
Related: Browns' Shedeur Sanders Gets Surprising Draft Label
Related: Explaining Why Browns Used Rare Tender on Elijah Moore
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