The Cleveland Browns made a stunning move that sent shockwaves through their locker room and caught Shedeur Sanders off guard. The rookie quarterback opened up about the surprise trade involving Joe Flacco, a veteran presence who’d played a key role in his development.
Shedeur Sanders Shocked By Joe Flacco Trade, Acknowledges Him As Mentor
Flacco was the Browns’ starter for the first four games of the season, but failed to impress, winning just one game against the Packers. He is the 35th-ranked quarterback in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact score with a failing grade of 53.7, and the Browns benched him in Week 5 for rookie Dillon Gabriel.
The Bengals struggled at quarterback under Jake Browning, who ranks 37th in the QBi metric. The two sides agreed to a trade that sent Flacco and a sixth-round pick to Cincinnati in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
Flacco’s trade cleared the way for Sanders to become the Browns’ QB2, but it wasn’t all good news for the rookie, who lost a mentor.
“He’s definitely somebody that I leaned on for wisdom,” said Sanders. “I feel like he helped me a lot in my time being here in Cleveland. Now, everybody has their own destinies and their own plans in life. So, I am just happy for him,” he added.
When asked whether he had spoken with Flacco after the trade, Sanders replied in affirmation. Sanders further revealed that he was shocked when the veteran told him about his departure.
“He told me, and I’m like dang that happened quick. That was crazy,” he added.
Sanders, who played college football at Colorado under his father, Deion Sanders, entered the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the most talked-about quarterback prospects. However, his stock slipped on draft day, and the Cleveland Browns eventually selected him in the fifth round of the draft.
Until now, Sanders has mostly worked on the sidelines with team trainers and staff, but that’s about to change. With Flacco gone, he’s expected to take reps with the first and second teams and possibly see game action before the season ends.
The Browns have consistently said they want to evaluate their young players, and if starting quarterback Gabriel hits a rough stretch, the door could open for Sanders to step in.
Fittingly, the Browns close out their season against the Cincinnati Bengals, setting up a potential quarterback duel between the rookie Sanders and his former mentor, Flacco.