A recent report recalled Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders nearly being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. Knowing how talented Lamar Jackson is, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to prepare Sanders for the NFL. Despite falling to the fifth round, Sanders didn’t care. He told Baltimore he wasn’t interested and now faced the media, who confronted him about his decision.
Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders on Rejecting the Baltimore Ravens in the 2025 NFL Draft
Plenty of quality NFL starters have had to wait for their moment in the league. Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love is a prime example of a team using a draft pick on someone years before they actually needed him. Learning from Rodgers is one of the best decisions the Packers ever made, as Love has already proven himself in his short career.
Sanders didn’t see any benefit in backing up Jackson. Sanders was once discussed to be a first-round draft pick, but Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, among others, were taken far ahead of him. Ward remains the lone QB drafted in 2025 to start this season. Regardless, Sanders gave quite the answer to these recent viral claims.
“My response is I’m focused on the now,” Sanders said. “I don’t really talk about anything in the past and whatever happened in the past, it is what it is. I’m more focused on now. I’m more focused on how this game that we just gone and had and figuring out how to move forward from now.”
Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders was asked about the ESPN report that he asked the Ravens to not draft him.
Sanders: “My response is I’m focused on the now. I don’t really talk about anything in the past and whatever happened in the past, it is what it is. I’m more focused on…
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) September 14, 2025
Ultimately, Sanders never denied any of the rumors. While he didn’t deny them, he never confirmed them either. His answer was very heavily rehearsed, as the wrong answer could’ve brought even more bad press to an already struggling Cleveland Browns organization. At the end of the day, there’s no way Sanders was going to avoid talking about the subject.
Led by veteran Joe Flacco, the Browns were blown out by the aforementioned Ravens. Jackson put on a show, going 19/29 for 225 yards and four touchdowns as the Ravens improved to 1-1 after their Week 1 collapse. One of the men Sanders is competing with, QB Dillon Gabriel, had quite a successful NFL debut.
Flacco threw the ball 45 times, though he only completed 25 passes for 199 yards. The long-time NFL QB had one interception. Gabriel came in and threw three passes, completing them all. Most importantly, the Browns’ 94th selection threw for his first NFL touchdown.
