Shedeur Sanders Declined Ravens Draft Pick, Seeking faster Path to Playing Time
BALTIMORE, MD - Quarterback Shedeur Sanders turned down a draft pick from the Baltimore Ravens, opting to land with the Cleveland Browns where he believed he’d have a clearer path to playing time, according to sources from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Baltimore initially planned to select Sanders in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, with the 141st overall pick. However, Sanders informed the Ravens he was unwilling to join a team where he anticipated limited opportunities due to the established presence of star quarterback Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP.
Sources indicate Sanders communicated to Baltimore that he preferred a team offering a more immediate chance to compete. The Ravens afterward used the 141st pick on offensive lineman Carson Vinson.
Just three picks later, the Cleveland Browns traded to select Sanders at No. 144. Sanders currently serves as the Browns’ third-string quarterback, behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel.
Sanders and the Browns will face the Ravens this Sunday in Baltimore,a matchup between two teams currently holding 0-2 records.
