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New Browns coach Todd Monken roasts Shedeur Sanders for telling Ravens to not draft him

Danby: Daniel Hager01/30/26DanielHagerOn3

Newly hired Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken and Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders met for the first time as members of the same organization on Friday. Just after the two shook hands, however, Monken reminded Sanders of the stunt he pulled in last year’s NFL Draft.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported last September that Sanders refused to let the Baltimore Ravens (where Monken was currently serving as OC) select him with the No. 141 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This was due to cornerstone quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the franchise, leaving no opportunity for Sanders to play anytime soon.

“Hey, we tried to draft your ass last year for God’s sake,” Monken said. “It’s all worked out. You remember that, right? Someday we’ll get a chance to talk about that.”

Because Baltimore passed on Sanders, the Cleveland Browns scooped him up with the No. 144 pick three spots later. Sanders ultimately played in eight games (seven starts) his rookie season, leading the Browns to a 3-4 record with wins over two of their three division rivals (Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers).

The 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns with 10 interceptions, earning a replacement spot at the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games. The AFC’s Pro Bowl quarterbacks were Drake Maye, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert. Maye will be playing in the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Allen and Herbert are both recovering from injury.

Shedeur Sanders will be entering second NFL season in 2026

Other potential AFC quarterback options, such as Bo Nix, Patrick Mahomes and Daniel Jones, are also injured. Thus, Sanders received the offer to participate in the Pro Bowl. He is the first rookie who was a fifth-round draft pick to earn a Pro Bowl nod since Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua.

“I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now,” Sanders said. “So, I’m always the same, confidence-wise, I’m there. But like, that’s not in my hands. Like, that’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel.”

The Browns will be entering a new era next season with Todd Monken at the helm. During his time as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator over the past three seasons, the Ravens posted a 35-20 record and quarterback Lamar Jackson was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Browns general manager Andrew Berry seemingly approved of Shedeur Sanders’ time as Cleveland’s starter.

“I think we saw a lot of progress with Shedeur this year,” Berry said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I think that’s both mentally, physically, playing the position. He’s still very much a work in progress, like many rookie quarterbacks are.

“But I think we saw some really good things in terms of his playmaking, his accuracy, his ability to extend with his feet. And I think I’d also give him credit, as well as our offensive staff, for bringing him along in terms of his pocket management, his situational awareness and things of that nature.”

On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this article.