CLEVELAND (AP) — Shedeur Sanders achieved another significant milestone in his NFL journey on Monday by signing his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns made a trade with Seattle to select Sanders in the fifth round with the 144th overall pick, ending the suspense surrounding the draft’s most notable player, who had slipped to the third day.
Last season, Sanders set single-season records at Colorado, leading the Buffaloes to a bowl game for only the third time since 2008. He threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns, contributing to a total of 41 touchdowns, which earned him the title of Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Year and a second-team spot on the AP All-America team.
Sanders is joining a competitive four-way battle for the starting quarterback position with the Browns. Cleveland brought in former Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett at the beginning of free agency on March 12. The team also signed Joe Flacco last month; he posted a 4-1 record as a starter in 2023 and played a vital role in leading the Browns to the playoffs for just the fourth time since their return to the league.
Additionally, Cleveland selected Dillon Gabriel from Oregon late in the third round.
“My job here isn’t to prove people wrong; it’s to prove myself right,” Sanders expressed regarding offseason expectations during Cleveland’s rookie minicamp earlier this month. “I have complete self-belief, and what those people say is merely their opinion. I don’t really care. They don’t occupy any mental space for me regarding such matters.”
The Browns have successfully signed four of their seven draft picks from this year’s class.
Image Source: Shedeur Sanders @ Instagram
