The Ravens planned to take Shedeur Sanders at No. 141, but he declined a backup role behind Lamar Jackson, prompting Cleveland to trade up to No. 144 and draft him, ending his dramatic slide. Sanders lands in a Browns QB room ahead of Flacco and Gabriel, with a path to real action unlikely this season.

In the preseason, Sanders flashed with two TD passes, then grappled with an oblique injury. He remains the emergency third QB behind Flacco and Gabriel as Cleveland reshapes its roster by releasing Huntley and trading Pickett to the Raiders, a move that locks Sanders into a quarterback room unsettled since 1999.

Shedeur Sanders lands with the Cleveland Browns at pick 144 after telling the Baltimore Ravens he wouldn’t join a team with Lamar Jackson as starter. Baltimore passes on him to draft Carson Vinson, while Cleveland slots Sanders behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel, shaping a young-but-murky QB path in Week 2.

Baltimore keeps Jackson at the helm with Cooper Rush as the top backup, and Kenny Pickett moves to the Las Vegas Raiders, reshaping QB depth for both sides. For fantasy players, Sanders is a wait-and-watch asset with potential upside if development accelerates or injuries spark new opportunities in Cleveland.

Shedeur Sanders is not expected to play for Cleveland Browns this season, sitting third on the quarterback depth chart behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel as the club develops him. The Browns’ plan, described by Dianna Russini, is patient and coaching-driven, even after trading Kenny Pickett for a 2026 fifth-round pick. With Deshaun Watson still injured, Cleveland will lean on veteran Flacco and developing Gabriel, keeping three active quarterbacks as the season begins.

Sanders’ confidence is clear, but the return to a traditional rookie arc in this era is evident: slow integration, growth emphasis, and a wait-and-see approach if depth issues arise. In short, Sanders is being groomed for a bigger window, not a Week 1 contributor.

Shedeur Sanders’ rookie year with Cleveland has been a reality check for fantasy managers: a fifth-round pick now anchoring a crowded Browns QB room, sitting behind Flacco and Gabriel after a tough preseason showing. The path to Week 1 looks murky, with constant depth-chart shuffles and no clear breakout yet.

Colorado’s QB transition after Sanders’ departure compounds the intrigue. Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis are stepping in as potential successors, while Travis Hunter’s two-way impact keeps hope alive for the Buffs’ offense. The story remains a reminder to temper expectations and watch how NFL opportunities unfold for these college stars.