Overview

• Jimmy Haslam said General Manager Andrew Berry made the decision to draft Shedeur Sanders with the No. 144 overall pick, rejecting the idea that ownership forced the selection.
• Shedeur Sanders, still listed fourth behind Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, took his first snaps against Cleveland’s starting defense on Wednesday.
• Head coach Kevin Stefanski declined to specify where Sanders ranks in the competition or how reps are distributed, emphasizing ongoing installation of the offense.
• Public speculation tied Sanders’s drop to the fifth round to owner meddling or a punitive move against his father, but Haslam’s remarks and front-office cohesion aim to quell those narratives.
• The rookie’s performance in upcoming joint practices and preseason games will heavily influence the Browns’ quarterback decision for Week 1.