While the Cleveland Browns’ 5th round, 144th pick Shedeur Sanders might be in the midst of mounting QB competition one thing is clear: he is definitely not going to the CFL. At least not in 2025. It isn’t happening.
He indeed is battling with other 3 QBs for the starting job for the Browns— well 4 other if we count Deshaun Watson who is likely out for the 2025 season due to a torn Achilles.
Since the chances of him starting in Week 1 seems slim, and the fact that the CFL team Toronto Argonauts own Sanders’ negotiating rights, people automatically assumed that it’s the next move. However that’s not the case.
Could Shedeur Sanders Be CFL-Bound? Toronto Argonauts Hold His Rights
The 2025 NFL draft shocked everyone. The presumed 1st round pick Sanders slid all the way to the 5th round before finally being taken by the Browns. However the bigger twist is, Browns already had picked Oregon standout Dillion Gabriel in the 3rd round 94th overall creating immediate questions about the team’s QB strategy with 3 in the house; Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson.
#Browns QB Shedeur Sanders is among the notable names on the CFL negotiation list, with the Toronto #Argonauts holding his negotiating rights https://t.co/VtWuvY3P5Thttps://t.co/VtWuvY3P5T
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 4, 2025
It definitely felt like Andrew Berry did Sanders a major favor, possibly because of his father Deion Sanders’ ties across the league. At least, the Browns’ draft room reaction gave us that impression. However, all things aside, Sanders did sign a four-year rookie contract with the Browns, which will keep him with the team until 2028.
Toronto Argonauts Hold Shedeur Sanders’ Rights
The Toronto Agronauts own the exclusive rights to Shedeur Sanders. Should the Browns QB ever want to play in the CFL, he would have to negotiate with the Argonauts to make that happen. The CFL team added Sanders to their negotiation list on April 28, 2025 amid his surprising draft slide.
The league made the list public for the first time on July 2. Each of the CFL teams maintains a list of up to 45 players who are currently unsigned, are in the NFL, in college, or in another professional league.
Along with Sanders, former Saints draftee Ian Book and New Mexico State/Vanderbilt product Diego Pavia are also on the list, with the rights to both of them belonging to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Shedeur Sanders Future In the NFL
Despite the intense QB competition within the Browns organization, that does not mean Sanders is on the verge of getting banished from the NFL.
The Browns will try to groom Sanders along with the other rookie as best as they can and there does seem a great shot of him getting chance to play at some point this season. Some analysts suggest he is the franchise QB for the Browns, but only time will tell. And even if Browns cut the cord with him, some other team will surely scoop him up.
Shedeur Sanders didn’t come all this way to play in a different football league, so we should probably just squash this now.
