Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has claimed that the decision to draft Shedeur Sanders was driven entirely by general manager Andrew Berry. On the surface, the remark appeared to simply highlight the front office’s role in personnel decisions.
But the timing and wording sparked speculation about whether the owner was subtly distancing himself from the pick, leaving room for deflection if Sanders struggles to find his footing.
“If you’d have told me… Friday night driving home, ‘Y’all are going to pick Shedeur,’ I would have said, ‘That’s not happening,'” Haslam said. “But we had a conversation early [Saturday] morning, and then we had a conversation later that day.
“I think we had the right people involved in the conversation. At the end of the day, that’s Andrew Berry’s call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur.”
Analyst flags potential red flags
ESPN analyst Louis Riddick weighed in on Get Up, suggesting that Haslam’s statement could signal a lack of complete alignment at the top of the organization.
“What it tells me is that this young man is ice skating uphill,” Riddick said. “Because they are not in lockstep as far as how they view him within that organization.
“I’m sitting here going ‘man, am I really at the right place here?’ Do I have people that are rooting for me, that want to make this competition here really fair and equitable?”
Rookie faces uphill climb in competitive QB room
Even without the added scrutiny, Sanders was already entering a tough situation. Breaking through as a rookie quarterback is one of the hardest transitions in football, and Cleveland’s depth chart offers little margin for error.
Sanders must prove himself quickly while managing the extra spotlight that comes with his name and the expectations surrounding his NFL debut.
Haslam’s comments have only added to the narrative, creating the perception that the Browns’ leadership might not be entirely unified on the rookie’s role in the team’s future.
For a young quarterback trying to earn trust in the locker room and from the coaching staff, that perception can carry weight.
As training camp progresses, Sanders’ focus will remain on mastering the playbook and carving out a role in a crowded quarterback rotation.
His performance in camp and preseason games will go a long way in determining whether he can push his way into the starting conversation.
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