Deion Sanders Backs Shedeur After 3-4 Browns Debut, Supports Myles Garrett Trade

Q: Did the Browns trade a Hall of Famer for lottery tickets or execute a franchise-altering masterstroke?

It looks much closer to a franchise-altering masterstroke than a desperate swap of a Hall of Famer for lottery tickets. The Browns did give up a franchise icon in Myles Garrett, who is 30, coming off a 23-sack season, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and a résumé that already looks Hall of Fame-caliber. But Cleveland’s return was not just speculative draft capital. The centerpiece was Jared Verse, a 25-year-old edge rusher with two Pro Bowls, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, 15 sacks, and 143 pressures in his first two seasons. That gives the Browns a proven young pass rusher at a premium position, not merely future hope. The draft compensation also matters because of Cleveland’s timeline. The Browns went 5-12, their offense ranked near the bottom of the league, and Shedeur Sanders’ rookie numbers — seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions, a 3-4 record as starter, and a very low QBR — underscored that this is not a team one player away. In that context, converting Garrett’s peak value into Verse plus a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second, and a 2029 third aligns with a broader rebuild. There is still risk. Garrett is the better player today, and if Verse stalls or the picks miss, the trade will age poorly. But based on the Browns’ roster, cap pressures, and long-term quarterback uncertainty, Andrew Berry’s move was a rational, high-value reset rather than a surrender for scratch-off tickets.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 18

Deion Sanders said he wanted more from Shedeur Sanders’ rookie year but framed the Browns quarterback’s uneven finish as a team issue, not an individual failure.
Shedeur went 3-4 as a starter with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions after taking over in Week 12 and becoming Cleveland’s starter for the rest of the season.
Deion said young quarterbacks need help from the offensive line, receivers, running game and coordinators, arguing several pieces must work for a passer to succeed early.
He also backed general manager Andrew Berry’s decision to trade reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Rams, saying he was happy with the return as Cleveland rebuilds.