Veteran sports commentator Jason Whitlock has sharply criticized ongoing trade speculation involving Shedeur Sanders, the young Cleveland Browns quarterback, and questioned the nature of the questions being asked about his future as the team struggles through the 2025 season.
Whitlock’s comments come as the Browns hover near the No. 3 spot in the upcoming NFL Draft, a draft position at the center of debate around Sanders’ role and potential value on the trade market.
Sanders, the 23-year-old son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, was selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite his lower draft status, he has remained a talking point among analysts, media, and fans alike.
Some argue that the Browns’ draft position could make him a trade chip for teams targeting elite quarterback talent in the next cycle. However, Whitlock pushed back on that narrative, calling the focus on Sanders’ trade value “cultish” and deriding what he described as “stupid questions” in media discussions.
Whitlock slams media on trade speculation
Whitlock’s remarks suggest frustration with how some outlets frame trade discussions involving Sanders amid Cleveland’s disappointing season. The Browns have struggled to find consistent success in 2025, leaving their draft slot, currently projected as high as No. 3, a topic of intense conversation among fans and reporters.
No one is trading for Shedeur. No one. Who wants the cult and the stupid questions moving to their locker room? Shedeur goes somewhere else when the Browns muster the courage to waive him.
Whitlock tweeted.
Rather than entertain hypotheticals about whether the team should leverage Sanders’ potential for draft capital, Whitlock believes the focus should remain on the player’s development and Cleveland’s on-field performance.
Sanders’ rookie season has been a learning curve; he has been cool in the Browns quarterback room, even behind the likes of Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel and he has the support of the coach Kevin Stefanski.
He battled like he does”…”I thought he made some unbelievable plays with his feet today, which I thought going into the game that may be the case. He’ll fight through injuries. A little finger injury is not going to keep him out of there.
Stefanski said to reporters.
Cleveland’s bad season fuels rumors
Cleveland has struggled to have consistency on the offensive side of the ball this season, which fuels media and fans’ commentary in terms of its future. This draft has one or two talents in the quarterback department, so now the word on the street is that Sanders could be Draft capital for going up and grabbing the likes of a Fernando Mendoza, the newly crowned winner of the Heisman trophy.
Whitlock’s vocal objection to trade speculation reflects a divide in NFL media: whether teams should prioritize future potential through draft positioning or maximize current assets by developing young players like Sanders. Regardless of perspective, the debate around Shedeur Sanders’ future in Cleveland remains one of the most talked-about storylines of this NFL season.
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