Let us break it down for you. The Titans hold the top pick, which is probably sealed for Cam Ward. Then, Cleveland holds the No. 2 overall pick, and their quarterback room right now looks like a mashup of “The Expendables” — Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. And the non-existent $230 million bust, Deshaun Watson. In one line: Functional, but far from future-proof. At No. 3, we have the Giants, who will pick up the remains after the top 2 deal their hands.
Okay, let’s loop back to the Browns. They’ve dined with Shedeur. They’ve hosted private workouts. And they’ve reportedly kicked the tires on every QB not named Arch Manning. According to GM Andrew Berry? “There’s a chance [we take Shedeur]. All options are on the board.”
And that’s when Mike Florio, in a Pro Football Talk report, perfectly wrote for us fans: “Then there’s the nuttiest one we’ve heard in recent days. At least one experienced and accomplished evaluator of talent thinks there’s a chance someone trades up to No. 2 to get Sanders.” Make it make sense. But if the GM’s OK, then who are we?
This is where things start dancing on the line between hype and hope. If Cam Ward is the clear-cut QB1 and goes to Tennessee at No. 1 — which most mocks now suggest — the Browns are sitting there at No. 2 with three real options:
Abdul Carter, edge menace from Penn State.
Travis Hunter, Sanders’ do-it-all college teammate.
And, of course, Shedeur Sanders.
If they go defense, they’re punting the QB dilemma. But if they go Shedeur? They’re banking on ball placement, decision-making, and a high football IQ — not jaw-dropping arm strength or freakish athleticism.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But it’s rare air for a quarterback prospect who doesn’t come with “wow” tools. So, let’s look at what the Tape and Data actually say.
Sanders’ accuracy numbers in 2024 were solid — 73.8% overall, 84.9% to open windows. He doesn’t miss the gimmes, and he’s plenty smooth outside the pocket (61.4% accuracy there). He cleared the 50% bar when pressured (53.2%), which is a sneaky-big indicator for NFL translation.
But peel back the layers, and the tape tells a quieter story.
27% of his throws were behind the line of scrimmage.
11.2% required unnecessary adjustments by his receivers.
41.7% accuracy in tight windows — average.
59.7% success rate vs. man coverage, despite throwing to Travis Hunter.
Those numbers aren’t disqualifying. But they’re not glowing either. Guess that’s why Florio wrote: “Most overlooked factor when it comes to Sanders is the possibility that the months of evaluation, investigation, and deliberation will be superseded by an owner who would rather get it wrong by drafting Sanders and having him not work out than by passing on Sanders and having him become a superstar elsewhere.”
Let’s be honest: If his last name wasn’t Sanders, is he even in the top-five conversation? Probably not. He’d be viewed more like Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe — intriguing, but flawed. But here’s the thing about NFL drafts: perception becomes reality. Especially in a year where the QB class is thin, and teams are desperate. Combine a famous father, marketability, and a competent floor, and suddenly you’re a top-two pick.
Still, there’s a long, painful list of high QB picks who didn’t pan out. Mind you all of these had tools. All had hype. None delivered:
Trey Lance
Zach Wilson
JaMarcus Russell
On the flip side, there’s an army of late-round guys who crushed expectations (even if we skip past Tom Brady):
Brock Purdy (262nd)
Dak Prescott (135th)
Jalen Hurts (53rd)
Patrick Mahomes (10th, still too low)
So, yeah — draft slot is just a number. And Sanders might be a solid, long-term starter. But if the Browns make this pick, they’re not just betting on a player — they’re betting on the Prime Effect.
The Browns haven’t made a hard decision yet, according to Berry. But they’ve seen Shedeur up close. If they take him, they’re saying “safe and steady beats flash and bust.”
But make no mistake: this won’t just be a draft pick. It’ll be a referendum. On Shedeur, on Deion, and also on Cleveland’s future. And if they pass? Maybe he goes to Steel City.
Shedeur Sanders wouldn’t mind a Pittsburgh interest
As Pittsburgh waits on Aaron Rodgers—who’s been doing his best impression of Schrödinger’s quarterback—rumblings are growing louder about Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart possibly wearing black and gold. And yep, this isn’t just smoke.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers have “some love for Sanders picking at No. 21.” Now, the usual: Why Sanders, though? The Colorado product hasn’t exactly had the smoothest road. There’s been chatter—maybe even concern—about where exactly he’ll land.
From @SportsCenter: Teams grapple with whether Shedeur Sanders is a true first-round prospect, and Pittsburgh continues to wait at QB while working on draft
With @LRiddickESPN and @aminajadeTV pic.twitter.com/Dnhu0vLmOy
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 29, 2025
But Fowler made it clear: “Most around the league do expect him to go fairly high in the first round.” New Orleans and Cleveland are doing their homework on him too, but Pittsburgh’s name is sticking right now. In a room where Aaron Rodgers still hasn’t said yes or no, taking a swing on Shedeur Sanders might be more than just Plan B. The future. That sounds better.
Jaxson Dart? Also in the chat. Not a surefire top-15 pick, but there’s that phrase again—“some love in the Steelers’ building.” Fowler said teams wouldn’t be shocked if Dart hears his name early, and you know how draft night gets. All it takes is one GM to blink, and the board goes full chaos.
Pittsburgh’s QB room right now? Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. The less we talk about them the better because they are certainly not bringing the Steel heat in the AFC with that QB room. No disrespect. But it’s just how it is.
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