Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the team will meet with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, coinciding with his pro day in Boulder on April 4. The meeting will include a private dinner and an opportunity to see Sanders throw live, a critical step in the Browns’ evaluation process as they search for their quarterback of the future.
What Browns HC Stefanski Sees in Shedeur Sanders
Speaking to reporters at the Annual League Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, Stefanski expressed enthusiasm about getting to know Sanders, stating, “Getting around him, going to dinner is important—the whole process of him getting in and listening to the rest of the coaches, the rest of the scouts on how they see the entire draft board. Certainly, Shedeur is someone who I think has done a really nice job through this process”.
Stefanski acknowledged, “Throwing live is another piece of this; it’s a small piece but another piece.” Sanders opted out of playing in an all-star Bowl game and skipped throwing at the Scouting Combine and Big 12 Pro Day, which hasn’t dissuaded his haters.
#Browns coach Kevin Stefanski acknowledges the club will have dinner with Shedeur Sanders later this week in connection with his Colorado pro day. Also eager to see him throw live: pic.twitter.com/fN29D8VxDU
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 31, 2025
Sanders has impressed scouts with his accuracy, decision-making, and poise under pressure. His ability to dissect defenses from the pocket would align with Stefanski’s three essential traits for an elite quarterback.
When speaking to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine, Stefanski noted, “Decision-making, obviously, is very high on the list. Whether it’s one, two, three. Accuracy being very important as well. Decision-making, and we just talked about it, processing.”
Why Stefanski Might Be Forced To Select Sanders
For Stefanski, selecting Sanders could save his job or put the final nail in the coffin. Entering his sixth season as Browns’ head coach, Stefanski has been on the hot seat since Cleveland’s poor start in 2024. In the NFLPA’s annual survey, Browns players graded the two-time Coach of the Year as the third-worst coach in the league.
After winning a playoff game in the 2020 season, the team’s first playoff win in 26 years, Cleveland took a step back in the next two seasons. The Browns traded first overall pick Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers for a fifth-rounder, then dealt for Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson, handing him one of the most detrimental contracts in NFL history.
While the Browns attempt to navigate their escape plan from Watson and his hefty dead cap, they traded for former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett and met with Russell Wilson before he signed with the New York Giants. The majority of analysts rate Sanders as the second-best QB prospect in the 2025 class, but ESPN’s Louis Riddick suggested some scouts may have a 3rd or 4th-round grade for him.
With Aaron Rodgers still pontificating and speculation around a Kirk Cousins trade simmering, pressure is mounting on Stefanski to find a solution under center. Another losing season due to poor QB play would doom the former Minnesota Vikings OC.
To QB or Not To QB: That’s The Browns’ Question in 2025 NFL Draft
Cleveland thought they had their franchise quarterback when dealing for Watson, but his bloated contract, numerous injuries, and inconsistent play have sent the team scrambling for answers. It’s a trendthat Browns fans have witnessed since the team returned to Cleveland in 1999. The Browns cycled through four more quarterbacks in 2024, ranking near the bottom of the league in scoring and turnovers.
Signing Myles Garrett to a huge contract extension signaled a commitment to becoming more competitive. Does the Garrett signing rule out the team taking Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter? Or could Cleveland double down on their pass rush prowess to replicate their success in 2023? In his 7-round mock draft for the Browns, PFSN’s Brandon Glick projects that Cleveland takes Carter.
On “Good Morning Football”, former Super Bowl champion Isaiah Stanback warned the Browns can’t afford to pass on Sanders, declaring, “When you’re looking to rebuild an organization, there is no better quarterback in this year’s draft to build an organization around, who has experience building up programs that aren’t doing well, than Shedeur Sanders.”
Could Sanders help build up the Browns program after turning around Jackson State and Colorado?
Stefanski clarified that they are looking for more than just talent—they want players they can develop over time. “Whether it’s the quarterback position or any position, it’s about understanding that there is a jump these guys are going to take over their career,” Stefanski said.
Garret also echoed this sentiment, saying, “Any team that’s going to go far needs a quarterback — and one that’s young, can learn and is willing to be patient with the process.” Some interpreted the quote to mean the team will pass on Sanders.
Would Sanders be willing to sit behind Kenny Pickett and learn?