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Browns Issued Big Shedeur Sanders Warning Before NFL Draft

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Mar 16, 2025 12:18 PM ET

Shedeur Sanders is one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's NFL Draft, but his ultimate landing spot is very much up for debate.

At this point, it's been widely forecasted that Cam Ward, the top QB in the class, will go No. 1 overall. Beyond that, it's murky, as there have been reports of Sanders' stock dropping because of, among other things, his behavior at the NFL Scouting Combine. If the Tennessee Titans stay at No. 1 and pick Ward, the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, who pick second and third, still have needs at quarterback, but may not be looking to Sanders to fill them.

Bill Simmons thinks Cleveland should be. On X/Twitter Sunday morning, Simmons argued that it would be a major mistake for the Browns to pass up on the Colorado star with the second overall pick.

"There’s been a lot of heartbreak with Cleveland sports these past 60 years, but passing on Sanders at #2 and opting for a Kenny Pickett/injured Deshaun Watson combo would be way up there," Simmons wrote.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 01: Shedeur Sanders #QB13 of Colorado looks on during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Interestingly, Simmons also made the case on Friday that the Giants should draft Sanders, if given the opportunity.

"If the Giants don’t take Sanders at 3, it’s going to haunt them for the next 15 years," he said.

As of now, the Giants are more focused on signing a veteran, either Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. The Browns, who traded for Kenny Pickett last week, also had Wilson in for a visit.

Sanders' on-field play has legit question marks, particularly his arm strength, tendency to drift in the pocket and take sacks and lack of elite athleticism.

EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 23: Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders talks with his son QB Shedeur Sanders before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium September 23, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images/Getty Images

ESPN's Louis Riddick theorized last week though that some of the backlash Sanders has been facing is related to his personality, as well as his famous father.

“People have been at this game… trying to talk certain prospects down for years,” Riddick said. “Deion (Sanders) is a lightning rod. That’s where it starts — it doesn’t even start with Shedeur, this starts with his father and then it just trickles down to him.

“It’s been that way since I played with Deion back in 1992… People don’t like flashy guys like that who can back it up. They just don’t… With Deion, he’s always been a polarizing player to the people who don’t know him… With Shedeur, he has some of his father in him, there’s no question. How could he not? He’s the man’s son.”

The 2025 NFL Draft is set for April 24-26.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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