🏈 Shedeur Sanders to Be Traded Before Taking a Snap? Could the Browns Really Cash Out Early?
He hasn’t thrown a single NFL pass, but Shedeur Sanders is already making headlines in Cleveland—for reasons that go far beyond the stat sheet. Drafted with promise and buzz, Sanders was expected to compete for a future role with the Browns. But now, whispers around the league suggest something wild: the Browns could flip him before he ever suits up on game day. With other quarterback prospects looming in future drafts and Sanders’ spotlight burning bright off the field, the question isn’t if he’ll make noise—it’s where that noise will be heard. Could Cleveland actually trade their high-profile rookie QB before he even takes a snap?
Shedeur Sanders could leave the Browns without even playing a single snap-it all depends on what he can prove
Although selected by the Cleveland Browns, the future of Shedeur Sanders in the NFL remains a mystery. As a rookie, he has no guaranteed spot, and his lack of league experience doesn’t favor him in the battle to become the franchise’s starting quarterback. Thus, the possibility of him being moved in a trade is still very much on the table.
Many analysts and experts praise the qualities of the former Colorado Buffaloes player, and the negative narrative surrounding his attitude issues has largely faded. However, Shedeur did recently find himself in trouble after receiving two speeding tickets for exceeding speed limits.
Shedeur Sanders could be a trade piece
There are four quarterbacks competing for the starting role, and Shedeur Sanders, along with Dillon Gabriel, is at a disadvantage. However, many believe the young quarterback’s media impact carries significant weight, potentially enough to attract interest from other teams.
Billy Heyen of The Sporting News suggests that Sanders will stay with the Browns as long as he either performs exceptionally or doesn’t play at all. If he plays well, a quarterback-needy team might show interest.
“If Sanders looks too good, the Browns may not want to give up on him. But if he looks just good enough, maybe a team desperate for QB help gives Cleveland an offer that can’t be refused,” Heyen wrote.
“The Browns have their own and Jacksonville’s first-round picks in 2026, so that’s a great spot to end up with a franchise quarterback, anyway. That could make Sanders expendable, if he plays well enough to intrigue another team.”
It’s worth noting that the Cleveland Browns hold their 2026 first-round draft pick, as well as the one acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars, positioning them well to pursue a quarterback. This scenario also makes Shedeur Sanders expendable if he doesn’t perform well enough to convince the team he can elevate the franchise to the next level.
Some teams that might show interest in the rookie quarterback include the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, or New York Jets, though it all depends on the performance of the quarterbacks currently in their rosters.
