Power play executed by Brown's owner concerning Shedeur Sanders, claims Insider report
The Cleveland Browns' selection of Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the NFL Draft has stirred a lot of chatter, especially about whose call it truly was. Browns GM Andrew Berry claimed that team owner Jimmy Haslam let the team make their own decisions, yet whispers persist that Haslam exerted his influence.
Journalist James Palmer of Underdog and Bleacher Report even asserted that he'd heard from sources around the league that Haslam made the decision for Berry. On 'NFL Insider Notebook', Palmer stated, "There's enough people around the league that have told me this is an owner pick."
This isn't the only voice suggesting Haslam's involvement. Crawling through the Browns' draft room footage, some observers have noticed a lack of enthusiasm from key figures like Berry, Haslam, and head coach Kevin Stefanski following the Sanders announcement. When asked about their apparent disinterest, Berry chuckled it off as exhaustion, while Stefanski advised against reading too much into it.
However, the selection of Sanders wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. Berry admitted that he hadn't planned on drafting two quarterbacks, but when Sanders began sliding in the draft on Day 3, he was willing to grab the Colorado QB if the opportunity presented itself. By the time the 144th pick rolled around, the Browns had traded their remaining draft picks to the Seattle Seahawks for the selection, which they used on Sanders.
This decision, however, hasn't been without criticism. The addition of another quarterback in the third round (Dillon Gabriel) and the signing of veteran Joe Flacco, as well as the acquisition of former first-round pick Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles, has left the Browns with a crowded quarterback depth chart. To complicate matters,Deshaun Watson is on the roster, but expected to miss most (if not all) of the 2025 season due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Despite the speculation and criticism, Berry and Stefanski have defended the Sanders pick, arguing that he was an undervalued asset who could "outproduce his draft slot." They seemed to be aligning their decision with their "best player available" philosophy. Some analysts believe that Haslam may have gotten involved due to Sanders' marketability, citing Haslam's history of interfering in draft decisions and the unexpected nature of the pick. Still, without concrete evidence, it remains just a theory for now.
- The rumors suggesting Jimmy Haslam exerted influence over the Cleveland Browns' draft pick of Shedeur Sanders persist, even after Browns GM Andrew Berry claimed Haslam lets the team make their own decisions.
- Despite the lack of visible enthusiasm from key figures like Berry, Haslam, and head coach Kevin Stefanski following the Sanders announcement, the Cleveland Browns' selection wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.
- Some analysts theorize that Haslam may have gotten involved in the draft pick due to Sanders' marketability, considering Haslam's history of interfering in draft decisions and the unexpected nature of the pick.
- The addition of Shedeur Sanders to the Cleveland Browns' quarterback depth chart, along with Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Deshaun Watson, has left the team with a crowded roster, leading to criticism of the decision, despite Berry and Stefanski's defense of it as an undervalued asset.
