The Cleveland Browns ended Shedeur Sanders's surprising slide in the NFL draft, but their own reaction to the selection at pick 144 seemed to raise eyebrows just as much. The scene in the Browns' draft room painted a picture of anything but jubilation.
General Manager Andrew Berry appeared less than thrilled, not exactly downtrodden either, but certainly not elated. Coach Kevin Stefanski's demeanor matched, lacking the exuberance customary to such a pivotal pick.
During a post-pick press conference, both attempted to explain the perceived lack of enthusiasm. Berry chalked it up to exhaustion from the grueling draft weekend. "Yeah, I think we’re probably just tired from the weekend," he told the press corps.
Stefanski added that the clips might not have perfectly matched the moment of selection. "Those clips, it’s not timed up to exactly the right time so I wouldn’t — don’t read too much into that," he said. However, NFL fans and analysts are not likely to dismiss it so easily.
While congratulatory claps were present, the underwhelming body language speaks volumes in the context of a high-stakes NFL draft. Yet, at this point, speculation is just that. For the Browns, it's about moving ahead with their new talent. They've now enlisted Sanders alongside fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel and seasoned players Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. The time to strategize and make decisions is imminent.
Ultimately, the Browns picked Sanders for the value he represented at that draft position. Only time will tell how this selection pans out. As the dust settles, the early intrigue around Sanders promises to be a storyline worth following. If nothing else, it makes the Browns an interesting candidate for the spotlight of a show like Hard Knocks.
