Sports
When Lamar Jackson went down, the Baltimore Ravens suddenly had a possible opening at quarterback. That might have given Shedeur Sanders, a star college quarterback, an early pathway into real NFL games.
Yet instead of seizing that opportunity, he opted to turn down Baltimore and wound up as the third-string quarterback in Cleveland. Now, with Jackson injured and plays looming, that decision looks increasingly ill-timed.
Shedeur Sanders looks hopeless as the Browns get blown out by the Lions
During the 2025 draft process, the Ravens showed serious interest in Sanders, reportedly preparing to take him in the fifth round. However, Sanders-along with his father, Deion-declined the possibility.
Sanders was not keen on backing up Jackson for years. As Deion explained: “Why in the world would I go back up Lamar (Jackson) for 10 more years?”
That was a striking admission-it framed the Ravens’ interest not as a coveted landing spot, but as a role Sanders explicitly rejected.
Had he accepted, the Ravens would have held a locked position at the top: Jackson entrenched, and Sanders waiting in reserve. But when Jackson’s hamstring injury emerged, that “reserve” label could have turned into real playing time.
By contrast, Sanders now finds himself behind Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel in Cleveland’s depth chart – meaning his road to the field is less direct.
Sanders is publicly embracing his path with the Browns. He recently said he’s “thankful” for where he is, despite not receiving active game snaps.
He spent preseason time with the scout team and has watched from the sidelines so far this season. The Browns officially named Gabriel their No. 2 quarterback, leaving Sanders as the “emergency third QB” on game days.
The consequences of that draft decision
Cleveland picked Sanders at No. 144 in the draft. At the time, many around the league considered him a first-round talent. But he fell into Day 3, in part because of interview concerns and questions about his readiness. In contrast, the Ravens passed on him after their outreach faltered.
Now, in Baltimore’s moment of need – Jackson injured, uncertainty looming – Sanders sits at a greater distance from decisionmakers there. Meanwhile, in Cleveland, his opportunities are contingent on underperformance or injury to Flacco or Gabriel.
Some believe that Cleveland still may turn to Sanders. Amid offensive struggles and uneven play from Flacco, coach Kevin Stefanski recently remained vague when asked whether Flacco would start next week. That ambiguity has fueled speculation that Sanders could be in consideration – but Gabriel appears to remain the preferred backup.
Still, Sanders did not completely rule out Baltimore at the time. Deion noted that Ravens’ general manager Ozzie Newsome was involved in discussions, and that Baltimore had called. But admitting that he declined, Sanders essentially bet on a faster path to snaps elsewhere.
In football, timing is everything. Jackson’s injury presents a rare window in Baltimore. But Sanders is already entrenched three tiers down in Cleveland, making any move to starting time more precarious. His gamble now is to stay ready, hope for a misstep above him, and show that his refusal to back up Jackson was not arrogance but calculated foresight.
Only time will tell whether that decision was a mistake or simply a longer road to the NFL’s spotlight.
This news was originally published on this post .
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