Shedeur Sanders entered the 2025 NFL Draft as a projected first-round pick. But the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback endured a historic draft slide. The Cleveland Browns eventually selected him with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round.
However, Sanders now faces an uphill battle in his rookie season, as he’s part of a four-way competition for the starting quarterback job in Cleveland. Adding to the uncertainty, a CFL team has also placed him on its negotiation list, making a potential move away from the NFL a possibility.
NFL Analyst Weighs in on Shedeur Sanders’ CFL Links
The Browns surprised everyone in the NFL world by drafting Sanders. The move was puzzling given that Cleveland had already selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round.
Although Sanders was a fifth-round pick, his draft outcome hardly reflects his production at Colorado. The 23-year-old quarterback threw for 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 74% of his throws in 2024. These numbers had put him among the top quarterbacks in college football last season, and he was expected to hear his name get called early in the draft.
Cleveland now has five quarterbacks on the roster: Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders. With Watson still recovering from an Achilles injury, expectations are that either Flacco or Pickett will start in Week 1. As of now, Gabriel and Sanders look primed to be battling for the third spot, but things could change quickly.
The quarterback room is crowded, making Sanders’ path to playing time unclear. Reports about him after the Browns’ minicamp are mixed, and amid all the drama, the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts have put the former Colorado star on their 45-man negotiation list.
NFL Analyst and “Pro Football Talk” host Mike Florio recently discussed Sanders’ potential move to the CFL.
“None of it matters unless and until Sanders washes out of the NFL and decides to roll the dice north of the border,” Florio wrote. “Chad Kelly has done it. Doug Flutie did it. Warren Moon and Joe Thesimann used CFL success as a springboard to NFL stardom.
“If Sanders is ever playing for the Argonauts, it will mean that things will have gone very poorly for him in Cleveland, and possibly elsewhere,” Florio wrote.
Florio clarified that the news isn’t new, as the Argonauts already held Sanders’ negotiation rights back in late April around the NFL Draft.
Sanders Shows Promise Despite Draft Position
This latest development doesn’t mean the CFL franchise can talk to Sanders at the moment. But the door is open if the Browns quarterback wants to explore it. Putting a player on the negotiation list means a team holds exclusive CFL rights if that player chooses to join the league.
During the Browns’ minicamp, Sanders drew the most attention. Many praised his performance despite not taking first-team reps, which showed that talent wasn’t the issue. Something else might be holding him back.
Shedeur Sanders reportedly had Browns coaches “shocked” at his precision and accuracy with the short time they had with him at rookie minicamp.
Sanders reportedly was throwing the ball with the “touch” of a 10-year NFL veteran.
Sanders reportedly has “goals” of winning the QB1… pic.twitter.com/DTo3kUCKMY
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) May 19, 2025
The positive reports from minicamp suggest Sanders has the arm talent to compete at the NFL level. His accuracy and touch impressed coaches who had limited time to evaluate him. These early signs point to a player who could develop into a solid NFL quarterback given the right opportunity.
Even if he doesn’t make the Browns’ final roster, Sanders will attract a lot of interest from elsewhere. At worst, he could serve as a backup quarterback. His talent level suggests he deserves a shot somewhere in the NFL. The CFL option provides him with another opportunity to showcase his abilities if the NFL doesn’t work out immediately.
The path from college star to NFL success is never guaranteed, but Sanders has shown he can perform under pressure.
His college production speaks for itself, and the early reports from Cleveland suggest he’s adapting well to the professional level. Whether he sticks with the Browns or finds success elsewhere, Sanders appears determined to prove his draft position wrong.
