The NFL trade is coming up, and with that, the talk is loud; is Shedeur Sanders potentially in the mix? The Cleveland Browns continue to leave him on the sidelines while their attention falls on Dillon Gabriel.
Sanders isn’t going anywhere; amid rumors of a trade on his behalf, those are just rumors. He will remain a floating rock for Cleveland: Stuck in the middle, not progressing or regressing, just staying stagnant. Gabriel will retain control of the offensive line. He isn’t leaving anytime soon, which means Sanders is stuck in limbo.
How Long Can Shedeur Sanders Keep Floating in Limbo?
Sanders isn’t seeing any action, no game reps, not even garbage time. His development and trade value, if any, are declining fast. The Browns see Sanders as cheap insurance if Gabriel gets injured, then Sanders could get game reps. Gabriel remains healthy, thus meaning Sanders receives no time.
Now, Sander’s progress is frozen while his potential slowly fades away. The Browns aren’t doing well; they’re currently 31st nationally, have an F grade, and an impact score of 56.3, according to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.
Do the Browns even care about Sanders? In their eyes, is he just a rookie and backup for Gabriel, not an actual option? The priority is Gabriel, who the coaches might feel brings stability to the Browns. To top it off, he is a more valuable player for the team with a four-year $6.2M deal compared to Sanders’ four-year, $4.6M deal. The value associated with the players makes it easier for the Browns financially to keep the latter benched.
The NFL trade deadline is coming after Week 9, so technically speaking, Sanders is tradable. It’s very unlikely to happen because he has no game time, no market value, and no attention on his name. The coaches who will evaluate potential trades will need to review Sander’s college stats, as he has no NFL experience. That’s going to be a tough trading call.
ESPN Cleveland’s official X account posted a video with the caption, “There are reports that the Browns could trade Shedeur Sanders before the deadline. @TonyGrossi shares his thoughts on if it could happen… Thoughts?”
There are reports that the Browns could trade Shedeur Sanders before the deadline. @TonyGrossi shares his thoughts on if it could happen…
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/xL0eKafKNC
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) October 24, 2025
In the offseason, Sanders could be a realistic trade option when teams tend to reshuffle. But as of now, he is staying with the Browns as Gabriel’s understudy. There is a rumor saying that the Browns anticipate a Garrett Wilson trade from the New York Jets.
Read More: Browns Urged To Trade Shedeur Sanders in Blockbuster Move for Superstar WR
If the rumor were true, the Jets would take a huge dead cap loss. Super unlikely and very expensive, the Jets would build around Wilson, not dump him.
In the NFL, standing still equals falling behind, and that’s where Sander’s fate is currently. He’s a rag doll being moved wherever the Brown’s situation takes him.
As every game he doesn’t play continues to waste his potential, Sanders will remain a floating asset for the Browns. It’s a waiting game to see whether Sanders will get his time on the field. Patiently waiting, he sends one quiet message to the Browns: Your move, Cleveland.
