Todd Monken meets Shedeur Sanders, reminds him 'We tried to draft your a**!'

The 2025 NFL Draft could have ended with Todd Monken getting to work with Shedeur Sanders on a daily basis. A little over nine months later and that scenario — though with a different franchise — is now a reality after the Cleveland Browns selected Sanders in the fifth round in April and hired the former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator as head coach this week.

It was reported in September that the Ravens, who employed Monken for the past three seasons, were interested in picking Sanders with the third pick of the fifth round. But before Baltimore could turn in the card announcing Sanders, the Colorado quarterback informed the team he did not want to have to sit behind Lamar Jackson and not have an opportunity to play.

The Ravens ended up drafting offensive tackle Carson Vinson. Three picks later, the Browns took Sanders with the 144th overall selection.

On Friday, Sanders and Monken met up for the first time with the new head coaching reminding his quarterback that things could have been different.

"Hey, we tried to draft your ass last year for God's sake," Monken said as he greeted Sanders. "It's all worked out. You remember that, right? Someday we'll get a chance to talk about that."

Sanders was asked about the report following Cleveland's 41-17 loss to the Ravens in Week 2, but he wasn't eager to talk about the past. "I'm more focused on now and I'm more focused on this game we just had and figuring out how to move forward from that," he said.

Sanders started seven games for the Browns last season. He threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a 68.1 quarterback rating. The Browns finished 5-12 and out of the playoffs for the second straight season. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was fired and Monken, who had signed an extension last January with Baltimore, was brought in after the Ravens dismissed head coach John Harbaugh.

It remains to be seen who will be Monken's quarterback for 2026. Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Browns hold the No. 6 overall pick, the depth chart features Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson.