CLEVELAND, Ohio — Shedeur Sanders asked the Ravens not to draft him last year, and now he’s playing for their former offensive coordinator.
Shortly after new Browns coach Todd Monken walked into office at Browns headquarters in Berea on Friday, he got a visit from Sanders, whom the Ravens tried to draft last year at No. 141 overall in the fifth round. Sanders told the Ravens not to do so, because he didn’t want to sit behind Lamar Jackson.
The Browns traded up to No. 144 and grabbed him there instead, ending the biggest freefall in the history of the draft.
“We tried to draft your a– last year for God’s sakes,” Monken said when he met Sanders. “It’s all worked out. Do you remember that?”
Sanders apparently made the right choice. After starting out fourth on the depth chart in camp, Sanders landed in the starting role in Week 12, and went 3-4 down the stretch. He did so despite the fact he never got a rep with the first team offense until the week leading up to his first start.
Monken, a former college quarterback and longtime offensive coordinator, has Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel in the quarterback room, but can also urge the Browns to draft a quarterback or acquire a veteran if he feels the need.
Monken took it all in when he stepped into his office for the first time.
“It’s surreal,” Monken said as he arrived at team headquarters. “It’s everything you work for your whole career. It’s why I came back to the NFL.”
This post will be updated.
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