Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam Breaks Silence on Shedeur Sanders Draft Decision

Jimmy Haslam has largely gotten credit for the Cleveland Browns‘ decision to draft Shedeur Sanders.

Yet, the longtime Browns owner finally opened up about Cleveland’s selection of the Colorado quarterback — less than two rounds after it chose Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel — and did not take ownership for the pick.

Cleveland has largely remained mum on its call to choose Sanders. Sanders of course went 144th overall at the 2025 NFL Draft, just 50 picks after it picked Gabriel to join Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and incumbent Deshaun Watson in its crowded QBs room.

What Did Jimmy Haslem Say About The Browns Picking Shedeur Sanders?

Jimmy and his wife Dee Haslam spoke for the first time publicly since Browns training camp opened. Though rampant speculation has reigned that he put his finger on the scale to bring the highly skilled, yet high-profile QB to Cleveland, Jimmy credited Browns GM Andrew Berry with the pick.

“At the end of the day that’s Andrew Berry’s call. He made the call to pick Shedeur,” Jimmy Haslam said before reiterating, “that’s Andrew’s call. He made the call.”

They were asked about the decision to pick Sanders, who famously waited until Day 3 for the Browns to choose him, and Haslam shed light on Cleveland’s process.

“If you had told me Friday night ‘y’all are going pick Shedeur’ I’d have said it’s not happening,” Jimmy Haslam said. “We had a conversation early [Saturday] morning, and we had a conversation later that day, and I think we had the right people involved in those conversations.”

What Did Jimmy Haslam Say About Deshaun Watson?

Haslam was asked about his off-season quote that acquiring Watson from the Houston Texans — for three first-round picks — then giving him a fully guaranteed five-year contract was “a swing and a miss” and whether Watson could ever play for Cleveland again.

Watson will miss the 2025 NFL season after he re-tore his Achilles tendon. Even though the Browns added four quarterbacks — including two via draft picks — Haslam kept the door for Watson to return, despite his awful play, injury woes and legal strife after being accused of sexual misconduct by massage therapists.

“I think it’s premature [whether he will or won’t play for the Browns again],” Haslam said. “He’s working hard on his rehab, so our focus is to get him healthy and well then we’ll make decisions after that.”

Haslam did admit the Watson trade set back the Browns, especially since he has missed parts of every season since the trade was announced March 18, 2022. Watson has played just 19 games for the Browns, and adding insult to injury is the fact Houston turned Cleveland’s picks to pick Will Anderson Jr. and Tank Dell, two marquee contributors.

Plus, even though the Browns made the playoffs in 2023 — led by NFL Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco — they finally made their first-round pick for the first time since 2021.

“I think you have to realize that we went three years with no [No. 1 picks], and I think at least one of those years we didn’t have a two and maybe two of those years.” Haslam said. “That hurts you roster-wise, it just does.”