Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders became the subject of renewed trade rumors after the New York Giants lost starter Jaxson Dart to a knee injury for at least the rest of the regular season.
During the latest edition of his “Daily Grossi” YouTube program, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand addressed the latest trade whispers regarding Sanders’ future.
Why Browns insider doubts a team would trade for Shedeur Sanders this fall
“I don’t know, but I doubt it, just because of the history of Shedeur being drafted in the fifth round,” Grossi said about a possible trade, per Sean Deveney of Heavy. “Who wanted him before the Browns?”
Grossi was referencing how every team passed on Sanders multiple times during the 2025 NFL Draft before the Browns took a flier on the polarizing prospect. Sanders ultimately produced some lackluster stats as a rookie, and he then lost a competition for the Cleveland starting job to veteran Deshaun Watson this past summer.
Did Shedeur Sanders burn a bridge with his predraft antics?
First-year Giants head coach John Harbaugh had that role with the Baltimore Ravens last year and allegedly wanted to draft Sanders. As the story goes, Sanders’ camp informed the Ravens that he didn’t want to be a backup for two-time regular-season Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson.
Backup Jameis Winston is currently on track to serve as the Giants starter, and Grossi thinks there may be a chance that Harbaugh has moved on from his interest in Sanders.
“Remember,” Grossi explained, “Shedeur said, ‘No, don’t draft me, I don’t want to be a backup.’ Maybe that alone turned John Harbaugh off. I just don’t think a team without any other affiliation with Shedeur would have any interest because they didn’t have any interest a year ago.”
It’s also worth noting that Sanders reportedly would have taken over as the Browns’ QB1 this week had Watson produced a dud against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday. Watson instead played well in a 23-19 Cleveland win at Tampa Bay, but some nevertheless think that current Browns head coach Todd Monken will want to get a look at Sanders sooner rather than later. Monken was Ravens offensive coordinator in 2025.