Ravens eyed Shedeur in draft, but QB nixed pick

The Baltimore Ravens were readying to draught Shedeur Sanders successful the 5th circular with the No. 141 wide pick, league sources told ESPN.

But earlier the Ravens could crook successful the card, the erstwhile Colorado prima fto it beryllium known to Baltimore that helium didn't privation to beryllium connected a roster with Lamar Jackson, wherever helium wouldn't person a accidental to play anytime soon, according to league sources.

Sanders knew that Jackson, a two-time MVP and 1 of the apical players successful the league, was not going to beryllium losing his occupation arsenic Baltimore's starting backmost anytime soon.

So the connection was conveyed to the Ravens that Sanders did privation to beryllium drafted by Baltimore and preferred to extremity up successful a spot wherever helium mightiness person a amended accidental to play sooner. The Ravens alternatively drafted violative lineman Carson Vinson with the 141st pick.

Three picks later, with the shot satellite watching, the Cleveland Browns selected Sanders with astatine No. 144 overall. Sanders and the Browns are successful Baltimore connected Sunday to play the Ravens successful a matchup of 0-1 teams.

Sanders presently is listed 3rd connected the extent illustration -- down Joe Flacco and chap rookie Dillon Gabriel -- with the Browns, who had a much crowded backmost country passim grooming campy and the preseason. But Kenny Pickett was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders and Tyler Huntley was released past month, clearing a way for Sanders to marque Cleveland's 53-man roster.

After an outstanding debut successful Cleveland's preseason opener, Sanders missed the Browns' 2nd preseason crippled due to the fact that of an oblique injury. He struggled successful the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, who sacked Sanders 5 times.

Sanders, Gabriel and practice-squad backmost Bailey Zappe each person been moving Cleveland's scout squad successful practice, quarterbacks manager Bill Musgrave confirmed Friday. "It's breathtaking due to the fact that those guys bash instrumentality pridefulness successful getting the defence ready," Musgrave said. "They privation to bash a bully occupation of replicating the opponent's discourtesy and astatine the aforesaid time, they privation to effort to ...