Browns owner Jimmy Haslam clarifies decision to draft Shedeur Sanders: 'Andrew Berry made the call'

The Browns waited until the No. 144 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select quarterback Shedeur Sanders. However, if it had been up to Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, the team never would’ve called Sanders’ name at all.

“Listen, we have good process,” Haslam said during his annual training camp address on Tuesday along with Dee Haslam. “If you just told me Friday night driving home, y’all are going to pick Shedeur, I would say, ‘That’s not happening.’

“But we had a conversation early that morning and then we had a conversation later that day. I think we had the right people involved in the conversation at the end of the day. That’s (Browns general manager) Andrew Berry’s call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur, just like who’s going to start or what play we’re going to call is Kevin (Stefanski’s) call. But that’s Andrew’s call. He made the call.”

While Berry ultimately wanted Sanders on the Browns’ roster, he hasn’t forced the staff to play the former Colorado standout. Last week, ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi reported that Sanders is the only one of the Browns’ four quarterbacks who hasn’t had first team reps.

Sanders was the second quarterback the Browns selected in the draft. The team also drafted former Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel with the No. 94 overall pick. The two rookies are competing against Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett for playing time this fall.

“I don’t think that’s my place to answer, to give the answer to that,” Sanders said Friday when asked why he thinks he isn’t getting reps with the first-team offense. “I feel like that it’s not in my control, so I’m not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is.

“There’s a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I’m here and I’m thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is.”

Shedeur Sanders showed he’s more than capable of success during his two years at Colorado. Under his father’s coaching, Sanders amassed 7,364 passing yards and 64 touchdowns compared to just 13 interceptions in his two years with the Buffaloes.

Sanders shattered over 100 program records at Colorado, and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts in 2024. He also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award his senior year.