Sanders was once seen as a potential Top 5 pick in the recently concluded NFL draft, but instead fell all the way to the fifth round before being selected by the Browns. He will face some stiff competition from veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and started minicamp below fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel on the depth chart.

Sanders was rated as the No. 23 overall player and the No. 2 quarterback in the class by Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department. His slide out of Days 1 and 2 was the story of the draft, as he fell to the fifth round and was the sixth quarterback taken at No. 144 overall.