Insiders update Browns' thoughts about possibly drafting Shedeur Sanders with No. 2 pick

Many are now convinced that the Tennessee Titans will hold onto the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft so they can grab Miami quarterback Cam Ward. 

With that said, multiple Cleveland Browns reporters raised eyebrows when they recently predicted that Cleveland could pass on Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and either trade down from the second choice or use that asset to land a playmaker such as Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.

On Sunday, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer indicated the club has not yet closed the door on taking Sanders at No. 2. 

"They’ve spoken so highly of Shedeur Sanders, and Sanders has left such a trail of Browns’ breadcrumbs, that it still seems to me that drafting him at No. 2 overall is the most likely scenario," Cabot wrote. "...The only curveball here could be if the Browns actually like Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) better than Sanders. For now, I’m still thinking the 'Legendary' one at two."

Numerous stories posted throughout March have linked the Browns with veteran quarterbacks such as Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons, Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco and even Aaron Rodgers. Acquiring one of those bridge options theoretically shouldn't keep the Browns from taking a QB high in the draft unless they're among the teams that allegedly were turned off by how Sanders "hit the wrong notes in combine interviews." 

Whispers emerged following the combine that some teams may now have Dart ahead of Sanders in power rankings for to-be rookie signal-callers. Cabot isn't yet sold that Cleveland would pass on Sanders with Dart in mind. 

"The Browns believe several of the quarterbacks in this class have starting potential, including Shedeur Sanders, who might be available to them at No. 2. Question is, do they like him well enough to take him there? I still think the answer is yes," Cabot added. "They could always grab another one later such as Jaxson Dart, but it’s risky to count on getting your guy later, especially a quarterback."

For an article published on Monday, The Athletic's Zac Jackson wrote that he's "willing to leave the door cracked for Cleveland selecting Shedeur Sanders second overall if Ward isn’t available" even though "Ward is believed to be the only top-tier quarterback in this class." Plenty will be said and written before the actual draft gets underway on the night of April 24, but it seems those believing Sanders could slide as far as into the 20s of the first round may be mistaken.