Aug 8, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) celebrates after a touchdown in the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

According to a report by ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders had a chance to be drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft and Sanders turned them down. Schefter said the Ravens reached out to Sanders with their plan and Sanders declined, not wanting to play behind quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Baltimore passed on Sanders and just a few picks later, the Browns chose Sanders, where he's not the third-string quarterback behind Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. The Browns also have Deshaun Watson, who we presume will return to the team once he is healthy, which will put Sanders' spot on the team in jeopardy.

It would be easy to pile on here, as Sanders' young NFL career has been one misstep after another. But the reality is, Sanders is a product of bad information. Every rookie NFL quarterback is an unknown, but he had been hyped up so much by his own inner circle, as well as a big chunk of the media, that objectivity went out the window when it came to his draft stock for him and the public.

This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: REPORT: Shedeur Sanders passed on opportunity to be drafted by the Ravens

Reporting by Curt Popejoy, Steelers Wire / Draft Wire

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