Sanders Eyes CFL as NFL Backup Plan

Argonauts Add Browns Quarterback to Negotiation List

While the NFL remains the primary goal for **Shedeur Sanders**, the Cleveland Browns quarterback now has another avenue to explore. The Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League have included him on their negotiation list, securing the chance to sign him if he chooses to play in Canada.

CFL Option Emerges

According to **Marshall Ferguson** of TSN, the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts have placed **Sanders** on their negotiation list, a compilation of 45 players the team is interested in potentially signing. This list grants the Argonauts exclusive rights to pursue **Sanders** should he decide to continue his career north of the border.

The negotiation list in the CFL allows teams to secure the rights to specific players, ensuring they have the first opportunity to sign them if those players pursue a career in the Canadian league.

Browns’ Quarterback Competition

The Browns selected **Sanders** in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft. Cleveland traded up to grab him with the No. 144 overall pick.

Although it seems improbable that Cleveland would release **Sanders** before his rookie season commences, he faces stiff competition for the starting quarterback position. He is currently vying with **Joe Flacco**, **Kenny Pickett**, and fellow 2025 draftee **Dillon Gabriel** for the coveted Week 1 starting role.

During the team’s five off-season practices open to the media, **Sanders** showcased promise, completing 41 of 53 pass attempts and throwing nine touchdowns while only recording one interception.

Despite his encouraging performance, **Sanders** doesn’t appear to be the frontrunner to secure the starting position on Cleveland’s depth chart as Week 1 approaches.

According to **Zac Jackson** of The Athletic, **Sanders** was the only one among the four Browns quarterbacks competing for the starting job who didn’t receive any first-team reps during the spring practices.

Future Outlook

Even if he doesn’t immediately secure the starting role, **Sanders** could still become a valuable long-term asset for Cleveland. Both **Flacco** and **Pickett** are scheduled to become free agents at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The Browns are currently paying **Flacco** an adjusted salary of $4.5 million, while **Pickett** is earning $1.4 million (Spotrac 2024).

During his final season with the Buffaloes in 2024, **Sanders** demonstrated impressive accuracy, completing 74.0 percent of his passes for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns, while throwing 10 interceptions.