When Shedeur Sanders finally heard his name called in the fifth round, a video surfaced of the Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski, looking not very excited to make the pick.
But this week, Berry and cornerback Greg Newsome were quick to show their love for the former Colorado star.
“We felt good with him as a person...his teammates loved him in Colorado,” Berry said after pulling the trigger on Sanders at No. 144 overall.
Shedeur’s fall to Day 3 is the biggest shock of the draft era of all-time, but maybe — just maybe — it’s going to be a blessing. With Deshaun Watson rehabbing and the Browns QB room wide open, Sanders walks into a real opportunity to compete.
Berry’s quote feels like a subtle counterpunch to that some of the narrative's like "bad personality" and "celebrity" factors. Berry was basically saying, "Hey, we did our homework. His teammates loved him. He's about ball."
But talent has never been the issue. Sanders led the nation in completion percentage last year and tore up the Big 12. If anything, some scouts nitpicked his mobility under pressure or questioned whether he could thrive behind a shaky offensive line. Combine that with some overblown concerns about "swagger," and you get a Day 3 steal instead of a Day 2 pick.
Now here’s where things get spicy in Cleveland: How in the world are the Browns going to juggle five quarterbacks?
Right now, the Browns' QB room looks like this:
Deshaun Watson (hurt)
Kenny Pickett (former first-rounder)
Joe Flacco (veteran band-aid)
Dillon Gabriel (third-round pick)
Shedeur Sanders (fifth-round pick)
No NFL team carries five QBs into the season. No chance. Someone’s getting cut or traded.
And if we’re being honest, Shedeur’s biggest competition might not be Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett — it’s Dillon Gabriel. The Browns invested a third-rounder in Gabriel, so you have to assume he’s got an inside track. But if Shedeur balls out in camp and preseason?
Cleveland is setting up a battle royale for that backup (and maybe future starter) spot.
Shedeur already has the support of Browns corner Greg Newsome who said:“I like Shedeur... I like a quarterback that’s got that IT factor. If you’re coming in with that confidence and swagger... that’s my type of guy.”
If Shedeur shows that same "it factor" Browns corner Greg Newsome is talking about, don’t be surprised if he forces the Browns into a very tough decision.