Shedeur Sanders not feeling pressure from his doubters
After sliding in the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders explains why he’s not bothered by his many doubters as Browns career begins.
Sports Pulse
Shedeur Sanders is preparing for his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns after being selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sanders joined a crowded Browns quarterback room that was already comprised of 40-year-old veteran Joe Flacco, 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett and third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel. The four men are expected to battle both to be Cleveland’s starting quarterback while also jockeying for position on the depth chart as whole.
While much of the focus surrounding Sanders is about his first season in Cleveland, the Browns aren’t the only professional football team that owns his rights. The Toronto Argonauts – a long-time member of the CFL – have Sanders on their negotiation list, meaning they are the only team that can sign the former Colorado quarterback should he ever want to play in the league.
Here’s what to know about the CFL’s negotiation list and why Sanders is one of many young, NFL quarterbacks on it.
Which CFL team owns rights to Shedeur Sanders?
The Toronto Argonauts currently own the exclusive CFL negotiation rights to Sanders. Should the current Browns quarterback ever want to play in Canada, he would have to negotiate a contract with Toronto to make that happen.
It isn’t clear how long the Argonauts have owned Sanders’ rights, as CFL teams are allowed to add college players to their negotiation lists. The league made the full negotiation lists public for the first time on Wednesday, July 2.
What is the CFL’s negotiation list?
Each of the CFL’s nine teams maintains a negotiation list of “up to 45 players who are currently either unsigned or are playing in the NFL, in another professional league, or in college,” according to the CFL’s official website.
Teams hold the exclusive CFL negotiating rights to the players included on their lists. Players can be added or removed from the list at any time, and teams are also allowed to trade the rights to players on their negotiation lists to other clubs within the league.
Is Shedeur Sanders going to the CFL?
Just because Sanders is included on one of the CFL’s negotiation lists does not mean he is going to play in the league. It simply means the Argonauts will retain his CFL rights if he ever does decide to play north of the border.
But if Sanders accomplishes his goal and carves out a long-term NFL career, he will not join the Canadian league.
Other QBs on CFL’s negotiation list
Sanders is far from the only NFL quarterback on a CFL team’s negotiation list. Many of the league’s clubs stockpile the rights to high-end college quarterbacks and back-end NFL roster candidates in the hopes one will eventually decide to join their teams.
Sanders is among the most notable, with Saskatchewan Roughriders stash Trey Lance – the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft – also being among the best-know candidates on the combined lists.
Below is a look at the quarterbacks on the CFL’s negotiation list for all nine teams, along with their alma maters or the most recent college program for which they played.
BC LionsBeau Brungard, Youngstown StateBen DiNucci, James MadisonNoah Fifita, ArizonaCole Gonzales, Western CarolinaMikey Keene, Fresno StateGevani McCoy, Oregon StateChandler Morris, TCUJohn Mateer, Washington StateCJ Montes, FordhamChris Oladokun, South Dakota StateTommy Rittenhouse, Illinois StateKaidon Salter, LibertyDemond Williams Jr., WashingtonCalgary StampedersGarrett Greene, West VirginiaJake Haener, Fresno StateTommy Mellott, Montana StateBen Woolridge, LouisianaEdmonton ElksByrum Brown, USFMalik Cunningham, LouisvilleDevon Dampier, New MexicoJalen Raynor, Arkansas StateCollin Schlee, Kent StateJacob Zeno, UABHamilton Tiger-CatsThomas Castellanos, Boston CollegeJalon Daniels, KansasLogan Fife, MontanaAdrian Martinez, Kansas StateAustin Reed, Western KentuckyBlake Shapen, BaylorKedon Slovis, PittMontreal AlouettesBrett Gabbert, Miami (OH)Seth Henigan, MemphisJosh Hoover, TCUEJ Perry, BrownDerek Robertson, MonmouthLindsey Scott, Incarnate WordOttawa RedblacksZach Annexstad, Illinois StateZach Calzada, Incarnate WordMatt Morrissey, Eastern KentuckyReese Poffenbarger, AlbanyDrew Pyne, Bowling GreenNick Vattiato, Middle Tennessee StateKekoa Visperas, Eastern WashingtonHajj-Malik Williams, UNLVSaskatchewan RoughridersAnthony Brown, OregonAlonza Barnett III, James MadisonAndrew Edwards, Henderson StateTrey Lance, North Dakota StateJordan McCloud, James MadisonAlex McGough, Florida InternationalTanner Mordecai, SMUMaverick McIvor, Abilene ChristianKellen Mond, Texas A&MJohn Rhys Plumlee, UCFWill Rogers, WashingtonBrayden Schager, HawaiiZach Zebrowski, Central MissouriToronto ArgonautsJason Bean, KansasMax Duggan, TCUKyron Drones, Virginia TechJarrett Guarantano, Washington StateKevin Jennings, SMUMarcel Reed, Texas A&MShedeur Sanders, ColoradoMatthew Sluka, James MadisonDonovan Smith, HoustonEJ Warner, Fresno StateJake Willcox, BrownWinnipeg Blue BombersIan Book, Notre DameBrady Cook, MissouriMark Gronowski, South Dakota StateHaynes King, Georgia TechDiego Pavia, Vanderbilt
To see the full negotiation lists for every team, click here.
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