Shedeur Sanders Joins the Cleveland Browns
Browns Select Shedeur Sanders, Ending a Nightmare Saga for Some, but Not for the Browns' Woes
It was a longer wait than expected, but Shedeur Sanders is now part of the Cleveland Browns family. In the fifth round of the NFL Draft, with the 144th overall pick, the Browns snatched up the Colorado quarterback. The team even traded with the Seattle Seahawks to secure the deal.
The Fifth-Round Rollercoaster
The drama might be over, but there's always a twist in this league, right? The Browns drafted Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round on Friday. So, what gives? Is Sanders a Plan B, or is he the top pick the Browns couldn't resist?
Now, the quarterback room includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders. Plus, there's Deshaun Watson, who... well, let's be real - he's probably played his last game for the Browns.
Prediction: The next couple of days will be filled with politely worded statements from everyone involved.
Keeping It Classy
Sanders will express gratitude for the opportunity and say he couldn't care less about when he was drafted; it's all about the team. He's got a way with words and knows how to make a positive impression, provided he treads carefully.
The Browns will, in turn, gush about Sanders being too good to pass up in the fifth round. Chances are, they've got some inside information that other teams were eyeing Sanders, and they had to make a move to secure him.
"We live by our board," GM Andrew Berry is bound to say. "Nothing's ever promised, but we're excited."
But...
The Elephant in the Room
The Browns have a history of "whoops" moments when it comes to quarterbacks. And let's face it, fifth-round quarterbacks in the NFL haven't exactly set the world on fire.
Since 1994, only 43 quarterbacks have been drafted in the fifth round, and none have become household names. The Browns, who've paid a pretty penny for Deshaun Watson, have a reputation for that sort of thing.
They've blown it with Johnny Manziel, Tim Couch, and even Baker Mayfield - twice, if you count the fact they didn't give him enough time to develop and then cut him loose.
The Quarterback Room: A Trip Down Memory Lane
Now, the Browns have a mix-and-match quarterback room that's like a box of mismatched socks.
Pickett? Was a bust with the Steelers.
Flacco? Past his prime, but experienced.
Gabriel? He's a 25-year-old rookie soon to be buddy-buddy with Flacco, sharing Geritol and swapping war stories.
And then there's Sanders.
One more thing: These conspiracy theories about Sanders not getting drafted or picked earlier can finally fade away now. No one, not even Skip Bayless, can blame racism for Sanders not being selected. After all, the Browns, the Steelers, the Titans, the Seahawks, and the Raiders all have diverse leadership.
So there you have it. Sanders will be a Brown, and truthfully, it's a better fit than some might think. Will he be the franchise-altering quarterback the Browns need? Only time will tell. If he bombs, don't say we didn't warn you.
- Despite some skepticism, Shedeur Sanders' joining the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the NFL Draft is an interesting development given the team's history with quarterbacks.
- The Browns will likely argue that Sanders was too good to pass up in the fifth round, possibly alluding to inside information about other teams' interest in him.
- The potential drama surrounding Sanders' draft position may subside as he moves forward, but questions about his ability to succeed in the NFL will linger, particularly since few fifth-round quarterbacks have made significant impacts in the league.
- The upcoming weeks may bring politically-worded statements from both Sanders and the Browns' management, with the team expressing optimism about Sanders' potential while trying to avoid the label of overpaying for a quarterback in the fifth round.
