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NFL Legend Randy Moss Reacts Strongly to Big Shedeur Sanders News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Sep 14, 2025 1:49 PM ET

Moments before the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens faced off in Baltimore, a new layer was added to the most scrutinized draft story of the season.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that the Ravens planned to select Shedeur Sanders at No. 141 overall in the fifth round, until Sanders relayed that he preferred not to land behind Lamar Jackson, prompting Baltimore to pivot and take offensive lineman Carson Vinson.

Cleveland drafted Sanders three picks later at No. 144, the culmination of a slide few anticipated in April.

On "Sunday NFL Countdown," NFL legend Randy Moss was among the first to react to the new development.

"Lamar Jackson is probably going to retire with this organization," Moss said. "So, if the backup does get in, he's in for garbage time. So, I can see why Shedeur Sanders made that decision. I want to go compete for a job and get out there and play as a rookie."

.@AdamSchefter reports the Ravens wanted to draft Shedeur Sanders, but he didn't want to go a place where "he'd be competing and backing up Lamar Jackson."

The Sunday NFL Countdown crew debates if that was a smart decision pic.twitter.com/SHNd6KzjR1
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 14, 2025

Sanders entered Week 2 as Cleveland’s third quarterback behind Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel. He was inactive in Week 1 and again on Sunday except in an emergency capacity, emphasizing how far he remains from game reps despite the predraft projection range that once included Round 1.

Sanders’ draft slide ended at pick No. 144 after multiple teams passed over three days in Green Bay. Cleveland traded up to secure him early in the fifth round, two rounds after selecting Gabriel, adding a second rookie to a room headlined by the 40-year-old Flacco.

During the spring, multiple outlets reported team concerns about Sanders' NFL-readiness and elements of the interview process, even as evaluators acknowledged starter traits.

Despite Sanders coming to Cleveland with the hope of becoming the starter, Browns reporter Tony Rizzo noted on Thursday how Sanders hasn’t even been running the scout team, with practice-squad veteran Bailey Zappe taking those looks.

Sanders’ preseason debut featured efficient production . He went 14-of-23 for 138 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in a 30–10 win over the Carolina Panthers.

However, an oblique injury cost him the next game and even after returning for the finale against the Los Angeles Rams, he was shaky, going just 3-of-6 for 14 yards in limited snaps, taking five sacks and a fumble and posting a 56.2 QBR.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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