Insider highlights a factor that played into Shedeur Sanders' draft slide

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns has been maybe the most-discussed rookie quarterback in the NFL throughout the summer even though the 2025 fifth-round draft pick is fourth on Cleveland's depth chart.

For an article published on Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested that the attention Sanders attracts from national media outlets and fans played a part in the former Colorado star remaining undrafted until Cleveland took a flier on him at overall selection No. 144.

"If a team needing a quarterback thought Sanders was a franchise quarterback, they would have taken him in the first round," Breer wrote. "If one that doesn’t need a quarterback thinks that, they’d have taken him on Day 2 and stashed him. But if you think Sanders is a developmental prospect with limited upside (which is how a lot of folks saw him), then, logically, would you want all the noise the Browns are getting now?"

One example of such "noise" involves Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson claiming he heard "from an NFL-side source" that teams were told not to draft Sanders before the Browns were essentially "forced" into grabbing the signal-caller who was mentioned as a first-round talent in numerous mock drafts.

More recently, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has been accused of sabotaging Sanders' development. Such takes may or may not be related to previous whispers that hinted Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was responsible for Sanders ending up in Cleveland.

Haslam has insisted that Browns general manager Andrew Berry made the Sanders pick.

Sanders impressed when he completed 14-of-23 pass attempts for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8. He then missed the Browns' matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 16 due to an oblique injury. 

In Cleveland's preseason finale versus the Los Angeles Rams this past Saturday, Sanders connected on just 3-of-6 passes for 14 yards. He also took five sacks in that contest. 

Meanwhile, fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel completed 12-of-19 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown versus the Rams.

"Some Day 3 quarterbacks make their teams," Breer added. "Others land on other teams or practice squads. They get a chance to develop and they either make it or they don’t. That’s what Sanders needs now: a chance to develop in the shadows."

As of Monday, the Browns remained on track to have four quarterbacks on their active roster for their Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. That said, one can't help but wonder if Stefanski will ultimately determine that developing Sanders is a distraction that's not worth the trouble before the in-season trade deadline arrives on Nov. 4.