Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has hired an agent for the first time in his professional career, a step that has fueled discussion about his future and possible trade availability before the Nov. 10 deadline.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Sanders signed with Adie von Gontard, the CEO of Young Money APAA Sports. The same firm also represents Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back Travis Hunter, who played with Sanders at Colorado.
The 24-year-old entered the 2025 NFL Draft and his entire rookie campaign without representation. The Browns traded up to select him with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round.
Sanders has operated almost exclusively as a backup this season behind Deshaun Watson. He has completed his only pass attempt for zero yards through five games.
Watson won the starting job in training camp under first-year head coach Todd Monken after a competition. The Browns hold a 3-2 record, matching their best start in recent seasons.
Watson has completed 95 of 148 passes for 1,010 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He has added 167 rushing yards on 37 carries, giving the offense a mobile element.
As a rookie last year, Sanders started seven games and posted a 3-4 record. He finished 120 of 212 for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions with a 56.6 completion percentage.
The quarterback room currently lists Watson, Sanders and sixth-round rookie Taylen Green on the active roster. Dillon Gabriel, the 2025 third-round pick, remains on injured reserve with a back injury but has been designated to return and is practicing during a 21-day window.
ESPN analysts Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have projected that Watson will keep the starting role unless he is injured or his performance declines sharply. Graziano has indicated it would be surprising if the team’s starter in 2027 is already on the current roster.
Once Gabriel is activated, Cleveland will have four quarterbacks under contract. That depth creates a potential roster crunch and increases the chance that one of the backups could be moved for draft compensation.
Sanders’ decision to secure an agent comes with less than four weeks remaining until the trade deadline. Representation allows him to more easily explore interest from teams that may need quarterback depth if injuries arise elsewhere in the league.
The development echoes the path of Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who hired agents in late September and was traded to the Houston Texans earlier this month in a deal involving 2027 draft picks, including a second-round selection.
Sanders has limited opportunities to demonstrate growth behind Watson. His rookie contract runs through 2028, so he is not yet eligible to negotiate an extension, making a change of scenery one of the more practical near-term options for increased playing time.
The Browns have emphasized development of Sanders as depth behind Watson, who is in the final year of his contract. League observers note that a modest trade return remains possible given Sanders’ late draft position and mixed results as a starter.
Any deal would likely hinge on a team viewing him as a developmental option with some starting experience rather than an immediate starter. The presence of an agent simplifies negotiations for both the player and interested clubs.
Cleveland’s focus remains on Watson’s production and the team’s 3-2 record heading into a key stretch of the schedule. Sanders’ next opportunity could come only if circumstances change, either through injury or a transaction.
