New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken had an intriguing comment to Shedeur Sanders when the two first met.
In a video released Friday by the Browns, Monken confessed that the Baltimore Ravens tried to draft Sanders last year when Monken was still their offensive coordinator. The Browns, of course, landed him in the fifth round instead.
“We tried to draft your a– last year, for God’s sake. It’s all worked out,” Monken said.
it all worked out@Bullseye_Event | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/5UC9kjyZnv
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 30, 2026
We actually knew about this, but Monken left out an important point. While the Ravens wanted to draft Sanders, it was supposedly Sanders’ camp that told the team not to. Monken may have slyly alluded to that, as he also remarks to Sanders that “someday we’ll get a chance to talk about that.”
If Sanders’ goal was to be an NFL starter, things worked out for him. He did get the opportunity with the Browns, and even earned a controversial Pro Bowl bid. Lamar Jackson is locked in as Baltimore’s long-term starter, which is why Sanders was not interested in going there.
It remains to be seen if Sanders is going to get a chance as a starter under Monken’s new regime. Clearly, the coach had plans for him, though, which may work in Sanders’ favor.
