Image Credit: Stephanie Amador Blondet-Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders Declined Ravens During NFL Draft Amid Lamar Jackson Presence, Chose Browns for Better Opportunity

Baltimore’s draft plans changed quickly

Image Credit: Stephanie Amador Blondet-Imagn Images

When the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft arrived, the Baltimore Ravens thought they were about to end the shocking fall of Shedeur Sanders. Instead, the quarterback turned them down.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Ravens planned to use the third pick of the round on Shedeur Sanders. Before they could submit their choice, however, the Colorado quarterback told the team he did not want to join a roster where playing time was virtually impossible.

With Lamar Jackson firmly established as Baltimore’s starter, Sanders had little chance to see the field outside of injury. Even then, there was no scenario where he could overtake Jackson for the top spot. For that reason, Shedeur Sanders declined the opportunity.

Ravens planned to take Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round, but before Baltimore could turn in the card, the former Colorado star let it be known that he didn’t want to be on a roster with Lamar Jackson, where he would be a backup. https://t.co/v1om447zHN
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 14, 2025

Baltimore Passed Over Shedeur Sanders After Rejection

The Baltimore Ravens quickly shifted their focus, and Shedeur Sanders got his wish. Three picks later at no. 144, the Cleveland Browns selected him, ending his fall. He entered the NFL 2025 season as the third quarterback on the depth chart, behind Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.

Although Sanders must climb the ladder, his chances of eventually starting appear stronger in Cleveland than they would have been in Baltimore. Flacco is 40 years old, and while he has performed well in his late-career stretch, the Browns will eventually look toward the future.

Competing With Dillon Gabriel

For Shedeur Sanders to earn a starting role, he will first need to surpass Dillon Gabriel. Both quarterbacks had promising preseason moments, but Gabriel’s strong finish solidified him as the Browns’ number two option behind Flacco.

Before the draft, several evaluators considered Sanders the stronger prospect. NFL front offices saw it differently, pushing him down to the fifth round. Early practices in Cleveland suggest Gabriel is ahead for now, though that could change as the season progresses.

If Sanders’ top concern was playing time, his decision looks justified. The Browns’ unsettled quarterback situation offers him a faster route to the field than Baltimore. Still, some may argue the Ravens’ stability under John Harbaugh would have been a better environment for growth.