Shedeur Sanders made a surprising move during the 2025 NFL Draft: he reportedly told the Baltimore Ravens not to draft him with their fifth-round pick (No. 141), declining the opportunity to back up star quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Instead, he waited three more picks until the Cleveland Browns selected him at No. 144. Some saw it as a bold act of self-belief; others criticized it as miscalculated. Amid the debate, Stephen A. Smith has stepped in to defend the rookie quarterback’s decision – arguing it was rooted in ambition, not merely ego.
According to reports, Sanders and his camp believed that, in Baltimore, his path to meaningful playing time would be nearly blocked by Jackson‘s entrenched status. Sanders didn’t want to carry the clipboard behind a two-time MVP.
Cleveland, though crowded, offered a clearer competition where he might actually earn reps. Smith says many people understand that communication with teams and choosing your landing spot is as strategic as talent in today’s NFL.
Defending ambition and opportunity
“Lamar Jackson… he’s a superstar,” Smith said on First Take. “When you take a job as a backup QB in Baltimore, you assume you’re going to be holding the clipboard… but you’re almost never going to play.”
He praised Shedeur for recognizing the “stuck ceiling” of being second fiddle and for selecting a situation where potential upside outweighs prestige. Smith sees this as a mature decision – one born from an understanding of team dynamics rather than mere preference.
Critics like former QB Alex Smith have called the move “short-sighted,” pointing out Baltimore‘s QB room strength, its stability, and opportunities for mentorship under Jackson.
Still, Smith argues that stability only matters if it yields playing time – and that in a league where quarterbacks develop by throwing in real games, a chance to take the field matters more than sitting behind a star.
Sanders now enters a Browns roster behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel, with limited playing time expected – at least near term. But Smith believes the long view favors Sanders: a spot where he can compete, not merely wait.
Whether this gamble pays off will depend on performance, opportunity, and patience. But in Smith’s eyes, turning down Baltimore was not arrogance-it was calculated strategy.
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