Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss defended Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Before the Browns played their Week 2 game against the Baltimore Ravens, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Sanders shut down Baltimore taking him in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Sanders knew that Jackson, a two-time MVP and one of the top players in the league, was not going to be losing his job as Baltimore’s starting quarterback anytime soon,”
After the report came out, many fans took aim at Sanders for nixing a team drafting him. However, Moss thinks the quarterback made a wise decision and defended the Browns’ quarterback.
“Lamar Jackson is probably going to retire with this organization,” Moss said on Sunday NFL Countdown. “So, if the backup does get in, he’s in for garbage time. So, I can see why Shedeur Sanders made that decision. I want to go compete for a job and get out there and play as a rookie.”
As Moss notes, Sanders wouldn’t have gotten a chance at playing time with the Ravens. But, with the Browns, the rookie quarterback could very well get into game action and start games this season.
Shedeur Sanders Reacts to Report
After the news came out that Sanders nixed the Ravens’ drafting him, he spoke to the media about the report.
However, Sanders didn’t delve much into it, as he says he’s just focused on the present and being with the Browns.
“My response is I’m focused on the now,” Sanders said. “I don’t really talk about anything in the past, and whatever happened in the past, it is what it is. I’m more focused on how this game went and figuring out how to move forward from here.
“You wouldn’t even believe, my memory doesn’t go back that far. I don’t even remember anything post-draft. I just remember I’m here, I go to practice every day, and it’s a 24-hour rule. … It serves no purpose in my life,” Sanders added.
Sanders is currently Cleveland’s third-string quarterback and has been inactive in both games this season.
The Browns selected Sanders 144th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Browns Have ‘Airtight’ Plan for Sanders
Part of the reason why Sanders denied being picked by the Ravens was that he wanted a chance at playing this season.
However, he has yet to be active in a game, but he is getting practice reps. CBS analyst and former NFL lineman Ross Tucker claims Cleveland has a plan in place for Sanders to get him practice reps.
If the Browns continue to lose, perhaps Gabriel and Sanders will both start games this season.
