The Cleveland Browns have had a rough start to the 2025 NFL season, going 1-3 with a lone victory against a likely playoff team in the Green Bay Packers.
The Browns are coming off a 34-10 blowout loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 4 — the second-most points allowed by Cleveland this season.
Due to the team’s offensive struggles, the Browns are expected to replace quarterback Joe Flacco with backup rookie Dillon Gabriel, who was the 94th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Gabriel has already played a few minutes in the regular season, completing all three of his passes and throwing for a touchdown.
Gabriel’s potential start is also bad news for Cleveland’s other rookie QB Shedeur Sanders, who has yet to see any playing time in the regular season.
Sanders has made it clear he’s frustrated he hasn’t been given a chance to start yet considering the QB play around the NFL. That said, some fans couldn’t help but point out the irony on social media of one critical decision Sanders made back in April that’s seemingly prevented him from starting yet in the NFL.
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Sanders’ Decision to Snub the Ravens Has Come Back to Haunt Him
It was revealed a few weeks ago that the Baltimore Ravens were planning on drafting Sanders during the 2025 draft, but he declined the opportunity because he didn’t want to sit as a backup for Lamar Jackson.
Well, just four weeks into the season, and with Jackson now expected to miss 2-3 games with a hamstring injury, Sanders could have gotten onto the field much quicker this season had he not blocked Baltimore from drafting him.
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Fans on social media couldn’t help but point out Sanders’ seeming misfortune.
“Shedeur sanders would really be starting in place of Lamar Jackson for the ravens the next month if he didn’t turn down the ravens in the 5th round,” one fan wrote.
“Just imagine if Shedeur Sanders had just let the Ravens draft him. He’d have his chance to start for a good team, with solid coaching. All because of ego,” another noted.
“If only Shedeur swallowed his pride and [was drafted by] the Ravens,” one user replied.
“Shedeur Sanders could be starting for the Ravens this week, but the family told Baltimore he didn’t want to go there. Whoops!” another user commented.
Having to sit as a backup to another rookie rather than filling in for an MVP with an opportunity to turn a struggling team’s season around is an unfortunate situation for Sanders.
While there’s no way he could’ve predicted Jackson would go down with an injury, there was an opportunity to learn from one of the league’s best and he declined it, which has many questioning the guidance Sanders got during the draft process.
Ahead of Week 4, Sanders made a bold claim, saying, “If you the see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that.”
While hindsight is 20/20, the decision to tell the Ravens to pass on him on draft day may be one that haunts Sanders if he gets zero playing time this season.
