Deion Sanders reveals NFC team called about possibly drafting Browns' Shedeur Sanders

Earlier this month, a report shared that the Baltimore Ravens wanted to select quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the 141st pick of the 2025 NFL Draft before they learned that Sanders didn't want to be a backup for two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.

The Cleveland Browns ultimately grabbed Sanders at overall choice No. 144. However, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders revealed on the latest edition of the "New Heights" podcast that the Philadelphia Eagles also had some interest in Shedeur this past spring. 

Were Philadelphia Eagles serious about drafting Shedeur Sanders?

"Philly called us on draft day," Deion Sanders said, per Nick Kosko of On3. "Okay, they didn’t mention that. I just let a cat out of the bag. Baltimore and the Browns (also called). They forget, I played for Baltimore, so me and (longtime Ravens executive Ozzie Newsome) are cool. So he understood that whole conversation, and he wanted to talk to Shedeur as well as he wanted to talk to me, and I put Shedeur on the phone. And Shedeur, I don’t want to say it went, but how in the world can somebody fault him for saying or thinking, 'Why in the world would I go back up Lamar for 10 more years?' I’ve never sat on the bench and said, 'Well, I learned a lot today.'"

One would assume the Sanders camp would've felt the same way about Shedeur ending up with a Philadelphia team that has reigning Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts as its QB1. Hurts is just 27 years old and signed a five-year contract extension reportedly worth up to $255M with $179.3M guaranteed in the spring of 2023. 

Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders is now buried on the Cleveland depth chart beneath current starter Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. For a piece updated on Sept. 8, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that fans shouldn't expect to see Shedeur Sanders make a start for the Browns "unless things get really weird" before Week 18 arrives.

Cleveland improved to 1-2 on the season via a 13-10 win over the Green Bay Packers (2-1) on Sunday.

Deion Sanders reminds Shedeur Sanders to stay ready

"Be patient and be ready," Deion Sanders added about Shedeur Sanders during the podcast. "You got to be ready when it’s time, but when it’s time, you’re gonna know and it’s coming up. You know, I got a prediction, I ain’t telling nobody. I got a feeling when it’s gonna go down, but it’s gonna go down this year. He’s going to get a shot."

There's no indication that Shedeur Sanders is close to getting a shot heading into Cleveland's Week 4 matchup at the Detroit Lions. That said, he could find himself one play away from seeing action if he eventually serves as Gabriel's primary backup for a game later this fall.