Day 2 of the NFL draft has come and QB Shedeur Sanders is still on the board with the Cleveland Browns having a chance to select him with the first pick of the second round. The Browns might see leverage power with that pick and move down, but Sanders is/will be the talk of Friday of the 2025 NFL draft.

The Sanders conversation has been overwhelming, on both sides, throughout the draft process. At one point, Sanders was considered a top-five pick. Obviously, that didn’t happen.

There are anonymous folks within the league who have made negative statements about the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, but all that matters, for our sake, is what Cleveland’s brass thinks about Deion Sanders’ son.

If you came here looking for a stake-in-the-ground take about whether the Browns should take Sanders on Friday, you probably came to the wrong place. Me talking to me about that and I haven’t come to an answer yet. Much like the legend Terry Pluto, talking to myself about Sanders in Cleveland has been an interesting exercise.

For the sake of the readers, I’m going to try to create a version of that streaming consciousness here:

“Should Deion or personality traits really impact whether the Browns take Sanders?”

I don’t think so. All that matters is whether Shedeur is coachable and gets along with his teammates. I’ve heard from a number of sources that Sanders was the one who really helped run meetings for the Buffaloes and make sure players were detail-oriented about the offense. Fans and insecure people might feel some kind of way about confidence, being talkative or even flashy clothes and parties but much of that was celebrated as the reason Baker Mayfield was drafted with the top overall pick.

Yes and no. Yes, for Cleveland to become a top-level team, the quarterback needs to be better than what Mayfield was with the team (and honestly, better than he is with the Bucs). On the other hand, there is a big difference between investing a top-five pick in a prospect with a high floor, lower ceiling than doing the same in the second round. If Sanders is the pick, he has a season to prove to Browns brass (not the fans) that his skill set can elevate the team over time.

“Does Sanders have enough arm to play in Cleveland/the AFC North?”

I think so. There are just a few throws per game that really matter in that way. Is he Josh Allen with a howitzer? No but neither is Joe Burrow. Timing and anticipation is why the Bengals QB wins. Sanders can do that. Also, quarterbacks can improve their velocity with small tweaks to their motion on top of strength work.

“Isn’t accuracy still important?”

It should be. It is actually something I might overvalue. I want a quarterback who throws the ball where he wants it to go. Not just area but placing it where his receiver doesn’t get lit up, has a chance to run after the catch and helps limit drop rates. Sanders was the most accurate quarterback last year and the most accurate when pressured. That should translate at the NFL but might need a little time to reveal itself (likely not on the field so fans will be concerned).

“If accuracy should translate, Sanders taking sacks is a problem, Jared.”

Thanks, Jared. That is one where I start to struggle. Sanders is great when he is a point guard, making quick decisions and moving on. When he tries to be a shooting guard/slashing small forward, things fall apart more than you’d like. Taking sacks in college tends to lead to taking sacks in the pros unless you have elite physical traits. Shedeur did not get Deion’s athletic ability, that is for sure. Hard, strong coaching matters a lot here which is where Bill Musgrave could be the perfect fit.

“If you take Sanders, fans will call for him to play as soon as Flacco/Pickett struggle, that is a distraction!”

As a fan, I care greatly about everything the Browns do. As a logical media person (as best as possible), I never want the Cleveland organization to make a single football decision because of fans. Listen to fans, sit with fans. (Maybe be better at listening to fans about non-football things though, please!)

“Does drafting Sanders in the second round mean they can’t take a quarterback in 2026 with one of their top picks?”

Nope. Worst case, the “extra” second-round pick from the trade down gave them a year to evaluate Sanders and he either ends up a solid backup or traded for a third or fourth rounder while the Browns get THE guy in ‘26. It is not a ton of sunk cost if it doesn’t work. If Sanders shows he can be a top 15-20 quarterback as a rookie (again, to the tea,m not fans), Cleveland has two first round picks to build around him.

“Do you want the high floor of Sanders over the high ceiling of Milroe?”

If I knew that, this piece would be titled differently and have an actual answer. I want both, really. Not two different players, but I want a quarterback with a high floor and the chance of a high ceiling. Those are called top 5 picks, in most drafts those are called THE top pick. I think Sanders would help the team make a playoff push in 2026, but have fans wanting him replaced by 2027 or 2028, while Milroe could either be a running back by 2027 or a top 10 explosive quarterback.

In the end, I can easily talk myself into drafting Sanders or passing on him. The best option would be to get a good trade offer to allow me to move down a little bit and let someone else take him but even that means I miss out on a high-floor player at the most important position in the draft. (Selecting Milroe later would help that, getting neither puts a TON of pressure on 2026)

Now that I’ve talked to myself about Sanders, talk back to me and other fans in the comment section below. If you’ve never signed up for an account with us, which you will need to comment, you can do so here then come back and share your Sanders thoughts.