Browns execs raise eyebrows with reactions after drafting Shedeur Sanders following historic slide

The Cleveland Browns pulled the trigger on taking Shedeur Sanders after his historic slide in the NFL Draft But several fans are skeptical about the team's enthusiasm for the participant based on the reactions of Browns leadership after the selection ESPN footage of Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry established light golf claps with blank facial expressions in the team's war room after the pick of Sanders was declared Berry slouched with a half frown NFL DRAFT QUARTERBACK MISTAKES THAT SHAPED LEAGUE LANDSCAPEMany fans on social media questioned how enthusiastic squad brass in fact was about taking the controversial prospect They look thrilled Did someone force their hand one X user wrote in response to the footage Another user expressed concern over Sanders possibly being on a gang whose leadership doesn't value him This is even more disrespectful than NOT drafting him No way these guys treat Shedeur fairly the user wrote GET FULL NFL DRAFT COVERAGE WITH REAL-TIME PICKS EXPERT ANALYSIS AND CAN'T-MISS MOMENTSOn bold critic even suggested Berry and Stefanski gave a reaction of shame This is a reaction of shame they are embarrassed that they decided to participate in this collusion participated in knowingly and obviously screwing this kid yet end up drafting him that user wrote Berry and Stefasnki later explained the selection of Sanders to reporters in a press conference Berry suggested that drafting Sanders wasn't necessarily the plan after taking quarterback Dillon Gabriel in an earlier round and he didn't think Sanders would be available in the fifth round It wasn't necessarily the plan going into the weekend to select two quarterbacks but you know as we talk about we do believe in best member available We do believe in positional value And we didn't necessarily expect him to be available in the fifth round Berry reported So we love adding competition to every position room So adding him to compete with the other guys who are already in there that was the appropriate thing to do While discussing the strategy behind drafting Sanders Berry mentioned it was something Browns leaders started to consider entering the third day of the draft It was something going into day three of the draft with him still on the board it was a thought like 'Well you know depending on how far he goes that would be something that we would be interested in potentially taking him off the board Berry stated As names kept coming off the board and we saw how we were positioned we just felt like the value was there Berry added that the interview experience with Sanders was positive amid reports the quarterback interviewed poorly for multiple NFL teams Before Saturday the relationship between the Browns and Sanders family wasn't all flattering compliments Shedeur's father Colorado football coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders once suggested a young quarterback should refuse to play for Cleveland in the way Eli Manning refused to play for the Chargers in I love what the Browns have done this offseason but if im a young QB ain't no way im going to Cleveland I would pull a ELI MANNING If workable Deion wrote in a March Twitter post However Deion also disputed the notion that Shedeur might not play for the Browns after a rumor surfaced last season A Lie don t care who tells it Please stop trying to become relevant by misrepresenting my son God bless you Deion wrote in response to a post circulating the rumor Follow Fox News Digital s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter