Jimmy Haslam makes unusual comment about Browns selecting Shedeur Sanders

Jimmy Haslam, the owner of the Browns, seems to have some reservations regarding Chedure Sanders’ potential track record.

Haslam shared his thoughts on Sanders during a conversation on Tuesday, reflecting on the decision to draft him with the 144th pick overall back in April.

“If you had told me on the Friday night of the NFL Draft that we’d be choosing Chedur, I would have laughed,” Haslam revealed. “But earlier that day, we had a discussion—it was a productive one—with the right people.”

He continued, “Ultimately, it’s Andrew Berry’s call. He decided to bring Chedur on board. It’s really up to [head coach] Kevin [Stefanski] and what they agree on moving forward. But Andrew drove the decision.”

While Haslam hasn’t shown distrust in Sanders, there’s an underlying concern about what might happen if Sanders doesn’t make it in the league.

This kind of skepticism is fairly typical for a player picked in the fifth round, especially with someone like Sanders, who has built up expectations partly because of his father, Deion Sanders, a well-known coach and former NFL star.

Many initially considered him a top contender for a higher pick in the April 2025 NFL Draft, so it was surprising when he slipped during the first two days.

Some on social media have speculated that Sanders could be struggling in camp, where he’s competing against veterans like Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco, along with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.

“If Chedur was a popular choice for the 53-man roster, it would have been a Haslam pick,” one user noted. “Since he’s currently fourth on the depth chart, it makes sense he would be Berry’s choice… It’s hard to think highly of Jimmy Haslam as an owner.”

Regardless of who made the final call, Haslam offered some reassurance about Sanders. “I understand everyone has hopes for Chedur, but he showed up, put in the effort, and kept his head down to get the job done,” Haslam said.