CFL: Shedeur Sanders tops names on CFL negotiation list alongside Bryce Young

Shedeur Sanders slipped drastically in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he’s still a hot commodity north of the border. Despite falling to the fifth round, the Cleveland Browns quarterback and son of NFL legend Deion Sanders is a media darling, always making the headlines for his appearances.

This time, the ex-Colorado quarterback turned heads regarding the CFL. The Toronto Argonauts have officially placed Sanders on their exclusive 45-man negotiation list, signaling serious interest in Coach Prime's son.

Given the crowded Browns QB room with veteran Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel, it’s a savvy backup plan.

Joining Sanders on the CFL negotiation list is former No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Bryce Young. Looks like CFL isn’t shy about targeting big names who might need a second chance.

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If Sanders doesn’t stick with the Browns, he won’t be short on suitors. Toronto's move ensures they’ll have first dibs on the 23-year-old signal-caller if he decides to take his talents to Canada.

Also read: "That will be Kenny Pickett’s superpower": Insider points out Shedeur Sanders trait that may push him back in Browns QB race

Former NFL MVP resonates with Shedeur Sanders

Cam Newton knows what it’s like to be under the microscope and stands firmly behind Shedeur Sanders. During a YouTube chat with rapper Wale, the former NFL MVP opened up about his admiration for the Colorado QB and his father, Coach Deion Sanders.

Newton praised Deion's protective and hands-on parenting style while also acknowledging the heat Shedeur had taken.

“I have the utmost respect for Prime,” Newton said. “There’s so much relatability to what Shedeur went through that I can relate to as well. But there’s also certain things that when you put a microscope to. You’re playing quarterback, you’re going to the league…there’s certain things that you got to incorporate, too.” (Timestamp: 08:20)

With NFL scouts dissecting every move and social media echoing pre-draft criticism, Shedeur’s slide to the fifth round and being picked as the 144th pick by the Cleveland Browns was a shocker.

“You’re going to the league… there’s certain things you got to incorporate,” Newton said, but he also offered a blunt truth, saying, “Some people may not like you. You got to be fine with that.”

Also read: "I know it’s a trap" - Joe Flacco rejects Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel-style hype in Browns’ QB battle

About the author

Prasen is an NFL/College Sports analyst at Sportskeeda. A B.Tech/Civil Engineering graduate, he has two years of experience writing content.

For Prasen, providing historical angles relevant to the story is important, as it can give the reader useful information and help them relate it to the present. He thinks this keeps the content unique rather than just a bland reporting of facts. Prasen believes in fact-checking and researching relevant information as per the headline and context. He hates clickbait or misleading the reader.

A fan of the Colorado Buffaloes since Deion Sanders took over as coach, Prasen expects Coach Prime to make the Buffs a national championship contender. Nick Saban is his favorite all-time coach, while Baker Mayfield and Caitlin Clark are his favorite players. Prasen considers Vince Young coming up clutch for the Texas Longhorns in the dying seconds of the 2017 national championship game against the USC Trojans as the most iconic moment of all time.

Per Prasen, College Sports is competitive and garners attention but it is just the beginning, where a student-athlete can show their skills and potential to make it to the big leagues. When he is not researching and writing, Prasen’s hobbies include pursuing higher studies and playing sports.

Know More

Cleveland Browns Nation! Check out the latest Cleveland Browns Schedule and dive into the Browns Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

Edited by Gio Vergara