Well, let’s start this wonderful Friday with a good NFL Conspiracy Theory. According to Eric Dickerson, NFL teams were told not to draft Shedeur Sanders.
“I tell you this much, what I heard from someone that’s in the NFL that the NFL told [teams] don’t draft him, do not draft him,” Dickerson said. “We’re going to make an example out of him. And this came from a very good source, a very good source.”
The reason I’d actually believe this theory is because of how high Sanders was projected to be drafted originally. He was expected to get taken in the first round. Then, his stock dropped a bit, but it was nothing to be selected at where he was taken at pick 144 in the 5th round by the Browns.
The idea is that the Browns were sort of “forced” to take him because of him still available at that pick. Despite this demand by the NFL overall, they had to go against it with the opportunity the team had in Round Five.
Now, this could explain why the team took Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round, No. 94 overall. Already taking a quarterback and then going after Sanders seemed like an odd strategy. However, if this conspiracy were true, it would make a lot more sense as to why it was done so.
While quarterback Joe Flacco has officially been named the starter for Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals (Sep 7th in Cleveland), Sanders did go 14-23 for 138 yards and two touchdowns (106.8 rating) in his preseason start against the Carolina Panthers. That was a 30-10 win. Sure, one can only make so much out of preseason, but that was nice to see.
The biggest problem the Browns face in drafting a quarterback like Sanders is that he’s going to draw attention regardless of what pick he was, if he’s starting or what does or doesn’t happen. This is simply because him being on the roster as a quarterback with that last name. It’s already showing with these conspiracy theories made by Dickerson and we haven’t even started the regular season.
Honestly, this could be a year where Flacco plays the entire season at quarterback. Or, unfortunately, we may see Sanders under center by Week 3 because of some injury or extreme struggle. There are so many question marks with this team, it’s hard to process. This is extremely true with the said quarterback position.
We may never know what is true or false in regards to these claims. I’m excited that Sanders gets the chance to prove just how great he is despite being selected in a later round. Of course, this isn’t going to come in Week 1, but maybe even later in the season or next year. Even so, he will get a chance to play here in this final preseason game, at least against the Rams.
It’s certainly going to be a process.
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