If things don’t work out for Shedeur Sanders with the Cleveland Browns, he could find a home in the CFL.
Sanders is facing an uncertain future in the NFL after sliding to the fifth round of the draft. The Browns selected the former Colorado star with the No. 144 overall pick, adding him to a crowded quarterback room that includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, a third-round selection.
Sanders is considered a longshot to win the starting job, with all signs pointing to him beginning training camp buried on the depth chart. If he fails to secure a roster spot in Cleveland and struggles to find another NFL opportunity, the CFL could emerge as a potential landing spot.
The Toronto Argonauts recently added Sanders to their negotiation list, a move that sparked interest north of the border.
“This is THE name on the list if you’re going for cartoonishly loud and fun name recognition. You already know the story and the bloodlines as Shedeur Sanders showed off million-dollar watches to opposing student sections while enjoying his visit to Colorado with legendary dad Deion,” CFL.ca analyst Marshall Ferguson said. “Can you image the buzz around Sanders to Toronto? I can’t yet, but after falling all the way to the fifth round of the NFL Draft this year, never say never.”
Being on a team’s negotiation list doesn’t mean the player has signed with that CFL team. It just means that the team has the first right to negotiate with them if they decide to come to Canada.
If Sanders eventually heads to the CFL, he would join a short list of Browns draft picks who made the jump. Former first-round pick Johnny Manziel tried to revive his football career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes after flaming out in the NFL.
Still, Sanders is just 23 years old, and his story in the league is far from finished.
Shedeur Sanders Makes Feeling Clear on Browns QB Competition
Sanders has seen limited reps during OTAs and minicamp and has yet to take snaps with the first-team offense — a contrast to the other three quarterbacks in the competition.
Still, Sanders isn’t making excuses. The rookie is staying focused on his preparation and ensuring he’s ready should his opportunity arise.
“Life is just based on how you view different things,” Sanders said in June. “So you can view things as you’re not getting reps in a negative way or you can view it as, OK, when it’s my time to get out there, let’s be proactive and let’s get warm, let’s get going.
“So, there’s no excuses because when you get out there, nobody cares how many reps you got whenever you get in the game. Nobody cares if you took a snap before. Everybody cares about production. So that’s the main thing when you get out there: You got to be able to produce.”
Shedeur Sanders’ Off-Field Troubles Create More Questions
Sanders had handled himself well since his draft tumble and landing in Cleveland. He impressed his coaches and teammates while also making a positive impact in the community.
However, two speeding tickets just weeks apart created some negative headlines for Sanders and raised questions about his decision-making off the field. The Browns are not expecting to discipline Sanders for the tickets, but it won’t help him in his uphill battle to get playing time.
Sanders addressed the incidents in a short video that circulated on social media.
“I’ve made some wrong choices, personally, I can own up to them,” Sanders said. “I’ve made some not great choices. I learn from it.”
Sanders and the Browns’ rookies will report for training camp on July 18. The veterans will join them on July 22.
