The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation has been one of the biggest storylines in this year’s training camp. Between injuries, depth chart uncertainty, and the development of rookie Shedeur Sanders, intrigue continues to grow.
Recently, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam shared candid insight into the decision-making process that led to Sanders’ selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, leaving fans with plenty to discuss.
Jimmy Haslam Opens Up About Shedeur Sanders Draft Decision
Haslam was clear that the decision to draft Sanders rested with general manager Andrew Berry, not himself.
#Browns Jimmy Haslam stresses that Shedeur Sanders was Andrew Berry’s pick, not his. pic.twitter.com/sD3yQYwSq8
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) July 29, 2025
“At the end of the day, that’s Andrew Berry’s call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur. Just like who’s going to start or what play we’re going to call is Kevin’s call. But that’s Andrew’s call. He made the call,” Haslam told reporters.
His remarks, reported in coverage of the team’s training camp, underscore how firmly the organization placed the choice in Berry’s hands.
Haslam went further, noting his surprise at how the draft-day decision unfolded. “If you’d have told me, you said you picked him on Saturday, right? Friday night, driving home, y’all are going to pick Shedeur, I would say that’s not happening. But we had a conversation early that morning, and then we had a conversation later that day. I think we had the right people involved in the conversation,” he explained.
Haslam’s comments show how late discussions within the Browns’ leadership influenced the outcome. While the Browns’ owner highlighted the front-office dynamics, Sanders has been making news of his own on the practice field.
As PFSN’s Max Dorsey reported, Sanders began training camp slowly, taking no first-team reps and seeing limited snaps behind veterans Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, and Dillon Gabriel. However, Pickett’s recent hamstring injury opened the door for the rookie, and Sanders made the most of the opportunity.
Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday’s practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources. Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps… pic.twitter.com/y2oxkt96fy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 27, 2025
On the fifth day of the Browns’ training camp, Sanders completed all nine of his attempts in team drills, throwing two touchdowns. His first came on a deep pass to wide receiver Gage Larvadain, where he displayed pocket mobility and accuracy.
Later, he connected with tight end Sal Cannella for another score, leading all Browns quarterbacks in completion percentage and touchdowns on the day.
Despite this progress, the Browns remain cautious about considering Sanders a serious starting option until he proves himself against the first-team defense. For now, the rookie is showing steady improvement, which the Browns view as a critical sign at this stage of camp.
Between Haslam’s revealing remarks on how Sanders was drafted and the rookie’s growing momentum in camp, the Browns’ quarterback situation continues to be one of the NFL’s most intriguing stories.
Whether Sanders eventually earns meaningful playing time remains to be seen, but the combination of front-office decisions and on-field performance has positioned him as a player to watch.
As of now, the former Colorado star is viewed as the fourth quarterback on the Browns’ depth chart. When healthy, Pickett will be ahead of him in the pecking order, as are Flacco and Gabriel.
