AFC Notes: Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Justin Tucker, Browns, Ravens

Browns

With the No. 2 overall pick, the Browns are certainly going to consider Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders with QB Deshaun Watson expected to be sidelined into the 2025 season. Sanders is eager for the challenge of changing culture because he did it twice in college at Jackson State and Colorado. 

“Because I’ve done it at two locations already, so it’s simple,” Sanders said, via Scott Petrak of the Browns Zone. “If you ain’t trying to change the franchise or the culture, don’t get me. So you should know, history repeats itself over and over and over and I’ve done it over and over and over. So it should be no question.”

When asked what his best trait is, Sanders talked about the mental part of the sport with his high IQ and ability to handle pressure growing up in the spotlight. 

“I’m most proud about my mental. I know nothing can faze me, no pressure, no situation. These cameras, nothing fazed me. I grew up with it.”

“My game’s not played for my legs, and not even just my arm. What’s Tom Brady best trait? His mental, he’s able to think. So if you have those traits of greatness, and I know where I’m heading, then why wouldn’t the franchise pick me? You got the ultimate cheat code.”

Browns

Browns GM Andrew Berry agrees with Titans HC Brian Callahan that Travis Hunter can play on both sides of the ball in the NFL but said that he believes he’s a better receiver than corner, unlike Callahan who thinks Hunter should start out on the defensive side of the ball.

“The answer is yes,” Berry said, via NY Times. “He can play both and that’s what makes him special. We see him as a receiver primarily first, but again what makes him a bit of a unicorn is the fact he can do both at a high level. It’s six of one, half dozen of the other. I do think there’s an element where his superpower is his ball skills. And (at receiver) you’re in position where he can have the ball in his hands, say, 100 times a year vs. 30. We will let our coaches and scouts fight it out and see where he is on the board, but any team would be happy to have him.”

Ravens

Ravens Eric DeCosta didn’t distance the team from K Justin Tucker amid sexual assault allegations and said the team will allow the league to conduct its investigation on the matter.

“I think we are fortunate that the league is doing an investigation,” DeCosta said, via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. “We’ll wait as patiently as we can for as much information as we can, and we’ll make our decisions based on that.”

DeCosta added that the team may not release Tucker or impose any disciplinary action until the league concludes their investigation.

“The biggest thing that we have to do, first of all, is look at every single case differently,” DeCosta said. “There are no absolutes. In this case, we’re still awaiting as much information as possible. Again, we’re fortunate that the league has come down to Baltimore. I met with the league. I believe the league is meeting with other people in Baltimore as well. We’ll wait for the details of that investigation, and we’ll make a decision based on that.”

Ravens HC John Harbaugh expects the team to add a kicker in the coming weeks.

“We’re going to look at every single position, but certainly different years, you’re going to look at different positions,” Harbaugh said. “We’re looking at kickers, we’re looking at a lot of positions. We’re looking at every position, but I’d say the kicker position would have been a priority no matter what because Justin is our kicker, we love him, and I always would have expected him to keep going forever, but nobody goes forever. So, we have to look at every position like we do.”