The Cleveland Browns surprised everyone during the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting two quarterbacks within the first five rounds — Dillon Gabriel from Oregon in the third round and Shedeur Sanders from Colorado, who unexpectedly dropped to the fifth.
Sanders’ unexpected fall became one of the biggest storylines of the draft and has continued to generate buzz in the weeks since. Despite the surprise, it seems Cleveland is already benefiting significantly from the situation.
“They Are Already Doing It” Browns Accused Of Exploiting Shedeur Sanders In Horrible Way
Shedeur Sanders’ dramatic drop was undoubtedly the headline story of the 2025 NFL Draft. Once considered the clear No. 2 quarterback prospect behind top pick Cam Ward, Sanders had been widely projected as a top-10 pick by many scouts and analysts.
His fall out of the first round was surprising enough, but what truly shocked everyone was that he remained unselected through the second and third rounds, until the Browns finally picked him at No. 144 in the fifth round.
Adding to the oddity, TikTok user @naechism revealed that the Browns appear to be capitalizing on Sanders’ popularity. A look at their official team website showed a surprisingly large selection of Shedeur Sanders merchandise.
In contrast, fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, taken in the third round, has no gear available. Even Mason Graham, the team’s No. 5 overall pick, has significantly less merchandise compared to Sanders — as do other Browns rookies and even several well-known veterans.
The takeaway here? Even if Shedeur Sanders never steps onto the field for the Browns, he’s already proved profitable for team owner Jimmy Haslam through merchandise sales.
As is well-known, NFL owners prioritize profits above all else.
The Browns’ quarterback room now includes offseason trade acquisition Kenny Pickett, 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson (who is expected to miss most or all of 2025 due to a torn Achilles), along with Sanders and Gabriel.
