When Shedeur Sanders walked into Browns headquarters and met his new head coach, Todd Monken, it wasn’t just a handshake and a hello-it was a reunion that almost happened a year earlier.
In a video posted by the Browns, Monken greeted Sanders with a hug and a candid admission: “We tried to draft your ass last year, for God’s sake. It’s all worked out.” That moment said a lot-not just about Monken’s enthusiasm, but about how close Sanders came to landing in a very different situation during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Let’s rewind. Monken, now leading the Browns, spent the previous three seasons as the offensive coordinator in Baltimore under John Harbaugh.
When the Ravens made the surprising decision to part ways with Harbaugh after the regular season, Monken didn’t stay unemployed for long. Cleveland scooped him up, and now he’s reunited-finally-with the quarterback he once had his eye on.
According to reports from last fall, the Ravens were seriously considering drafting Sanders in the fifth round. But there was a wrinkle.
Sanders reportedly made it clear to Baltimore that he wasn’t interested in sitting behind Lamar Jackson. He wanted a real shot to compete, and with Jackson entrenched as the starter, that opportunity wasn’t going to be there.
So the Ravens passed.
That decision opened the door for the Browns, who moved up to No. 144 to grab Sanders in the draft. At the time, it might’ve looked like a developmental pick-Cleveland had veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett on the roster, along with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Sanders started the 2025 offseason buried on the depth chart.
But football has a way of reshuffling the deck.
Flacco and Pickett were traded. Gabriel struggled and got hurt.
That opened the door for Sanders, and once he stepped in, he didn’t look back. He finished the season as the Browns’ starting quarterback.
Now, let’s be clear-Sanders’ rookie numbers weren’t eye-popping. He completed 56.6% of his passes, threw for 1,400 yards, with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
He also added 169 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Those stats show both promise and room for growth.
But what matters more is that he held onto the job when the opportunity came, and that speaks volumes about how the organization views him.
Enter Todd Monken-a coach known for his offensive creativity and quarterback development. His arrival in Cleveland could be just what Sanders needs to take the next step. Monken’s system helped unlock Lamar Jackson’s passing game in Baltimore, and now he’s tasked with shaping Sanders into a consistent NFL starter.
The connection between coach and quarterback already seems strong. Monken didn’t just want Sanders last year-he now has the chance to build around him.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed. The Browns may still bring in competition, and Sanders will need to earn the job again in training camp.
But the pieces are aligning. A coach who believes in him.
A system that could suit his skill set. And a team that’s already seen what he can do when given the reins.
It didn’t happen in Baltimore. But in Cleveland, Shedeur Sanders just might get his shot.