Respected NFL insider Adam Schefter has recently revealed his growing belief that the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns are both planning to pass on Shedeur Sanders.
It was long believed that both the Giants and the Browns were eyeing a quarterback with their opening picks. Now, though, Schefter is beginning to think that Sanders may be the odd man out come late April.
Adam Schefter Believes That Browns and Giants May Both Pass on Shedeur Sanders
Speaking to Ty Schmit on “The Adam Schefter Podcast,” Schefter revealed that there is a growing feeling that neither the Giants nor the Browns will be drafting a quarterback with their first picks. The Browns currently hold the second overall pick in April’s draft, with the Giants set to pick one spot behind them.
Abdul Carter, an elite pass-rushing prospect out of Penn State, is believed to be a top-two prospect in the class, along with Colorado’s receiver/cornerback hybrid, Travis Hunter. The fact that neither the Browns, Giants, nor Tennessee Titans have a long-term franchise quarterback, though, was expected to lead to both players sliding out of the top three.
According to Schefter, however, Sanders is the player that could end up sliding in the first round, with teams potentially happy to pass on the quarterback position early in the draft.
“It certainly feels like the Cleveland Browns are inclined to look elsewhere, aside from quarterback. And it’s starting to feel like the New York Giants, at No. 3, are starting to look elsewhere, other than quarterback,” Schefter said.
So if the Browns don’t take Shedeur Sanders at two, and if the Giants don’t take Shedeur Sanders at three – and that is the feel that I’m getting recently. Where is Shedeur Sanders going?”
The current feeling is that neither the #Browns nor #Giants will select a QB at No. 2 and No. 3, per @AdamSchefter.
How far could Sanders fall? My guess would be to pick 9 to the #Saints. pic.twitter.com/xg56klmMGT
— Portersburgh (@PortersBurgh) April 2, 2025
How Far Could Sanders Slide?
The Giants recently signed both Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson in free agency, so a move for Sanders, though not out of the question, would seem less likely. The Browns, however, are without a clear-cut starting quarterback and would, therefore, likely find it far more difficult to pass on the Colorado prospect.
If, however, both teams did pass on Sanders, the quarterback would be fairly short of options when it comes to starting roles. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the only other team that appears to need a starting quarterback for 2025. But Pittsburgh appears to be on the verge of signing four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers.
Several teams could be interested in Sanders as a future starter, with the futures of their current starters less than certain. Derek Carr, Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, and Geno Smith could all be put on notice if their team was to select Sanders.
One potential landing spot, though perhaps less likely, would be the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers currently appear to be some way off agreeing on a new contract with Brock Purdy after benefitting from his measly rookie contract in recent years.
Kyle Shanahan has had success building his teams around elite skill players rather than an elite quarterback. If the team is unwilling to shell out for Purdy, it’s not out of the question San Francisco would trade Purdy and reset the clock with Sanders’ rookie deal.
For now, though, everything remains up in the air, including Sanders to the Browns at No. 2.