Browns Could ‘Ruin’ Shedeur Sanders - Didn’t nine executives have Shedeur Sanders going as the No. 1 quarterback at this same time last year?
It was no secret at last April’s NFL draft that ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. was incensed about the way the league treated eventual Browns fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders. After all, Sanders was projected to be a first-round pick, but after supposedly interviewing poorly at the NFL Combine, teams began wiping him off their draft boards.
The free-fall was arguably the worst in the history of the NFL draft, and Kiper repeatedly backed Sanders and denigrated NFL teams for passing on him.
Fast-forward six months and Kiper is still backing Sanders, even as the Browns keep sticking with third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel as the team’s starter.
Speaking on ESPN’s “First Draft” podcast this week, Kiper said, “Figure out Dillon Gabriel, that was Kevin Stefanski’s guy. Shedeur Sanders, Andrew Berry brought in because he was there in the fifth round, see what happens. … To me, let’s see how it plays out the rest of the year. I hope Shedeur has a chance. Even if he gets in there, he might struggle, does that mean he stinks? Does that mean he was overrated? No.”
Shedeur Sanders Was the Draft’s No. 1 QB One Year Ago
Kiper pointed out that long before Sanders was with the Browns, he starred at Colorado and was ranked by many as the top quarterback coming out in 2025. But he also pointed out that, over time, NFL teams reveal that they aren’t all that smart about drafting and developing quarterbacks.
That, Kiper said (and Browns fans know as well as anybody), is especially true of Cleveland’s NFL contingent.
“I don’t care what the league says,” Kiper said. “The league doesn’t speak about quarterbacks, they don’t know any more than you or I do about quarterbacks, really. Everybody’s clueless about quarterbacks including the National Football League geniuses, OK? They don’t know. Even when they have them, they don’t know. (The Browns) had Baker Mayfield, they let him go. …
“Didn’t nine executives have (Shedeur Sanders) going as the No. 1 quarterback at this same time last year? What happened? Nothing happened on the field. All the sudden, ‘We’re washing our hands of Shedeur Sanders. We don’t want him, we don’t want him, we don’t want him.’ To me, the organizations ruin players. They ruin quarterbacks.”
Browns Quarterback History Is Not Great
Again, when Kiper refers to “organizations” he means the Browns, who picked Baker Mayfield out of Oklahoma with the No. 1 pick in 2018 and went 11-5 with him in 2020. But Cleveland dumped him the following year, and Mayfield has gone on to be a two-time Pro Bowler and now an MVP candidate in Tampa Bay.
“This is the one that has you scratching your head. You had Baker, Baker was winning. Baker almost had you in a Super Bowl. To me, Baker should be in Cleveland. …” Kiper said.
“When Cleveland had Baker Mayfield, they hadn’t had any success, they hadn’t won anything—1999, no consistency at quarterback, 15 times since the AFC North came in 2002, they finished in last place. Fifteen times, last place. One playoff win since 1999.”
Bills Legend Eric Moulds Sells Final Game-Worn Jersey to Support Teammate Battling Parkinson’s Disease
Buffalo, NY – November 1, 2025
In a gesture that’s brought a wave of emotion across
game-worn jersey from his final season to support a former teammate now facing the hardest battle of his life.
For fans who remember the late ’90s and early 2000s, Moulds was the lone constant in an era of instability. Known for his precision routes, contested catches, and quiet leadership, he became the franchise’s beacon of hope through years of quarterback turnover. From 1996 to 2005, he posted
675 receptions, 9,096 yards, and 48 touchdowns, including a historic 100-catch season in 2002, earning three Pro Bowl selections and a permanent place among the Bills’ all-time greats.
That former teammate is Takeo Spikes, the relentless linebacker who commanded Buffalo’s defense with passion and authority. During his time with the team (2003–2005), Spikes recorded over 200 tackles
, earned two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro selection in 2003, and became known as the emotional core of the defense — the “defensive quarterback” who brought fire to every down.
💬 “We carried this team through the storms — him on defense, me on offense,” Moulds said quietly. “Now that he’s fighting something far tougher than any Sunday battle, I want this jersey to fight for him — the same way he fought for Buffalo.”
Spikes, beloved for his intensity and leadership, has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder that has gradually affected his movement and coordination. Despite the diagnosis, those close to him say his trademark energy and optimism haven’t faded — he continues to train, mentor young athletes, and advocate for player health awareness.
Moulds’ decision to sell his final jersey isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about brotherhood. The proceeds from the auction will go directly to the Bills Alumni Health & Wellness Fund
, supporting Spikes’ treatment and ongoing medical research into Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative conditions among retired NFL players.
💬 “This jersey carried our pride, our pain, and our fight,” Moulds reflected.
