If you listen to Cleveland Browns fans, former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders holds the key to an Ohio revival.
Will the Cleveland Browns Draft Shedeur Sanders?
As Browns fans rallied in support of Myles Garrett, who recently requested a trade, a group of young franchise supporters yelled, “Save of Shedeur!” while playing the QB’s song, “Perfect Timing.”
The group of kids that showed up to protest tonight yelled “Save us Shedeur” and started blasting Perfect Timing 😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/l7MLoiTUbk
— Grant Puskar (@grant_puskar_) February 4, 2025
As pleas go in the sports realm, it appeared equal parts depressing and hopeful. Now, pinning the hopes, dreams, goals, and aspirations on any one player feels overbearing. The Browns need to accomplish the boldest roster remodel in the history of the NFL.
The franchise and QB Deshaun Watson remained joined at the hip in a contract that clogs up 26% of the 2025 salary cap. Cleveland owes Watson $72.9 million, with a dead cap of $172 million, per Sportrac. Those numbers put any hope of shaking loose of an oft-injured, problematic QB in serious jeopardy.
The salary stays the same next season, but the dead cap lowers to $99.8 million. However, the likeliness of the Browns finding a team foolish enough to absorb Watson’s hefty contract remains in the valley of slim and none.
Why trade for an injured QB when you can either draft one or sign a free agent for far cheaper? Imagine Sanders wasting his first years as a backup.
News broke this week about edge rusher Garrett requesting a trade. Watching your best defensive player in the last three decades leave does not help franchise renovation.
In fact, when Garrett hits the door, Cleveland immediately jumps feet-first into the rebuilding pool. The team moves further away from contention, and it looks like it will continue its moribund trend.
Granted, Garrett should net a great haul in draft picks. However, unless the Browns draft nothing but Pro Bowlers left, right, and center, things do not change. Additionally, other veterans will want to follow No. 95 out of town.
As a result, rookies and whatever remains will start the process. What coach wants that job? Knowing you will eat losses like Tic-Tacs will not lure a young coordinator. And if you did manage to trade for Sanders, he’d leave after his contract expires.
From the moment NFL teams started researching Sanders, he knew how large a role his father would play. Deion Sanders, to anyone within earshot, already said that he would steer his son toward a favorable team situation. Those last three words immediately eliminated the Browns from any contention.
If you thought Archie Manning interceding on behalf of his son in 2004 was wild, the elder Sanders would use a heavier hand. Every aspect of Shedeur’s career will need his father’s blessing and signing off.
Coach Prime will never let his son go to a team that needs too much in regard to team building. If they do, they will need to boast the requisite cap space/flexibility. Again, Cleveland doesn’t pass the smell test.
KEEP READING: 2025 NFL Draft Ultimate Top 300 Big Board
Ironically, Cleveland sits on a lake. Their team continues to sink beneath the surface of both relevance and consistent winning. Once upon a time, the Browns served as a cornerstone NFL franchise.
Now, due to no one’s fiscal/football mismanagement, they look completely unsalvageable on the fly. Sanders does not want to wait to be great. Under those circumstances, the prospects of him heading to Cleveland look grim.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
