The NFL offseason has reached the league meetings stage. Soon, franchises will gather for the 2026 NFL Draft, where fresh talent will join new teams.
Last year, one of the biggest draft slides occurred when quarterback Shedeur Sanders fell to the fifth round. Like many late-round picks, Sanders had little choice in his jersey number.
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Now entering his second year, the Cleveland Browns signal-caller has more control. Sanders and the Browns announced that he will wear the same number he wore at Colorado–number two.
Sanders had an underwhelming rookie season. Despite his draft position, he carried high expectations, as many experts had projected him as a first-round pick.
During his rookie year, Sanders wore No. 12, a nod to his mentor, Tom Brady, who wore the number throughout his 23-year career.
Now, Sanders will switch to No. 2—the number he wore at Jackson State and Colorado, where he showed flashes of brilliance under his head coach—and father—Deion Sanders.
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Sanders’ draft slide remains somewhat of a mystery, and his selection by Cleveland adds another layer of intrigue. The Browns initially selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round.
Two rounds later, they doubled down by selecting Sanders. Some have accused the NFL of conspiring against him and not giving him a fair start to his career.
In limited playing time, Sanders looked like a rookie, but he showed promise—particularly in a shootout victory against the Tennessee Titans, where he faced Cam Ward.
Perhaps the number change will give Sanders the spark he needs to elevate his play. Then again, this is the Browns we’re talking about.
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