When the Cleveland Browns selected quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, eyebrows across the league were raised, not because Sanders isn’t talented, but because he had fallen far below early projections.
As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero explained, Browns GM Andrew Berry didn’t cave to outside pressure or ownership demands. Instead, Berry saw value where others saw risk, and made what Pelissero described as “another bite at the apple.”
Tom Pelissero Reveals Browns’ Bold Logic Behind Shedeur Sanders Pick
Despite passing on Sanders six times and already selecting Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel earlier in the draft, the Browns made an unexpected move in the fifth round, trading up to ensure they didn’t miss out on Sanders. Some speculated owner Jimmy Haslam pushed for the pick, but Pelissero quickly shut that theory down.
“It was made abundantly clear to me this was not Jimmy Haslam pushing for this pick,” Pelissero said. “This was Andrew Berry doing what a lot of general managers do late in the draft, taking a shot on a high-upside player who somehow remained on the board.”
So why the urgency after ignoring Sanders for most of the draft? Pelissero noted that sometimes, there’s simply one name left on the board with a high grade that makes teams act. “You don’t have a need at the position, but if the value is too good to ignore, why not take another swing?”
The Browns have certainly invited chaos. With Deshaun Watson still in the picture, the addition of Kenny Pickett via trade, and rookie Dillon Gabriel already on board, quarterback controversy looms. Yet Berry’s philosophy is clear: when the price is low and the potential is high, you don’t hesitate. “The worst-case scenario is you cut Sanders and lose a fifth-round pick,” said Pelissero. “The upside? You might have just landed your future starter.”
Statistically, Sanders is no slouch. Across four seasons at Jackson State and Colorado, he completed over 70% of his passes for 14,353 yards and 134 touchdowns, with just 27 interceptions. He also finished eighth in Heisman voting last year, proving his ability to perform at a high level. Still, scouts were wary. Questions swirled around his arm strength, size, athleticism, and how he’d adjust to an NFL culture without his father, Deion Sanders, coaching him.
“There’s going to be a major culture shock for Shedeur,” Pelissero added. “This will be the first time in his life he’s operating in a locker room where his dad isn’t in control. That kind of transition can’t be overlooked.”
Andrew Berry’s decision reflects a long-term strategy. With an extra first-round pick in 2026 from a blockbuster trade, and a deep upcoming quarterback class that may include Arch Manning and Drew Allar, the Browns are stacking lottery tickets.
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Whether Sanders pans out or not, Cleveland’s aggressive, layered approach under Berry shows they’re not just betting on one player, they’re betting on opportunity.
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