Could the Browns’ Bold 2025 Draft Gamble on Shedeur Sanders Rewrite Their Future?

Less than a day after giving a nod to Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Browns GM Andrew Berry found himself back in the spotlight—only this time, the questions centered around another quarterback making waves: Shedeur Sanders from Colorado. The move to snag Sanders well into the fifth round, 50 picks after Gabriel went off the board, raised eyebrows, but Berry was upfront about the Browns’ unconventional approach.

“There’s this constant chatter about how quarterback is the crown jewel of football,” he noted, emphasizing that while the team didn’t plan to double down on the position, sometimes the “best player available” surprises you—especially when a player slips through the cracks and is undervalued relative to draft expectations. Selecting Sanders wasn’t just about talent; it was a calculated gamble, a bet on potential and value that might just pay off.

Now, this strategy—stacking the QB room with two promising rookies—has sparked debates: Why risk splitting resources and development snaps? Yet industry insiders aren’t entirely dismissing the approach. Some see merit in having a pair of shots rather than putting all your eggs in one fragile basket. The competitive fire this could ignite between Sanders and Gabriel might just be the spark the Browns need.

These two quarterbacks bring contrasting yet intriguing profiles, and Cleveland’s crowded QB roster—featuring veterans and varying experience levels—sets the stage for an offseason battle that could reshape the franchise’s future. Will this dual investment be a masterstroke or a misfire? Only time will tell, but one thing’s certain: the Browns are going all-in on quarterback competition.

LEARN MORE“We talk oftentimes about quarterback being the most important position in the sport,” Berry said. “It wasn’t necessarily the plan going into the weekend to select two quarterbacks, but as we talk about, we do believe in best player available, we do believe position value, and we didn’t necessarily expect him to be available in the fifth round.So this offseason, as the Patriots strategized their roster building under new head coach Mike Vrabel, they made a decision: Maye is their unquestioned starter and Milton’s best value to the team was as a trade asset.“Is he going to be focused on ball only?”

“Is he going to be focused on ball only?”

“Is he going to be focused on ball only?”

“Is he going to be focused on ball only?”

“Is he going to be focused on ball only?”

“Is he going to be focused on ball only?”

“Is he going to be focused on ball only?”

“Is he going to be focused on ball only?”

Evaluators believed Sanders had the potential to develop into a quality starter while Gabriel’s ceiling was more likely at high-level backup. Each can be a system fit with Cleveland’s above-average offensive line.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBerry touted Sanders’ accuracy, pocket presence and production a day after praising Gabriel’s accuracy, poise, anticipation throws and mobility as above his 5-foot-11 height (Sanders stands 6-1 1/2).Advertisement