Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Hires First Agent of His NFL Career

Shedeur Sanders handled the NFL draft and his entire rookie season without an agent in his corner, but he’s finally hired one.

The Cleveland Browns quarterback signed with Adie von Gontard, CEO of Young Money APAA Sports, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Von Gontard’s agency also represents Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter, Sanders’ Colorado teammate and friend.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano doesn’t see an opening for Sanders under center in Cleveland.

Graziano wrote on Oct. 14 that Watson will “keep the job until he gets hurt, he starts to play poorly or Cleveland tumbles out of contention.”

Sanders, 24, has been Watson’s backup for all five of Cleveland’s games in 2026. Coach Todd Monken handed the job to the 31-year-old after a quarterback competition, a decision that disappointed Sanders.

Watson hasn’t given Monken an easy reason to switch. He has 7 touchdown passes, the same number as Josh Allen and Sam Darnold, plus just 2 interceptions and a 94.1 passer rating for a 3-2 team.

Scoring has lagged, though. Cleveland’s 93 points rank among the NFL’s bottom 10, and Monken’s offense is still taking shape.

Several league sources told OutKick the hire looks like groundwork for a trade request. None of them have direct ties to the Sanders family, and Young Money APAA Sports didn’t immediately respond to OutKick.

That path has worked before. Arizona Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. hired his first agent about two weeks before the Houston Texans confirmed a trade for him.

Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2019, Za’Darius Smith in 2023, and Haason Reddick in 2024 each changed agents while angling for trades.

Cleveland traded up in the fifth round to land Sanders at No. 144 overall in 2025, then signed him to a four-year rookie deal worth $4.647 million.

Over eight games as a rookie, Sanders connected on 56.6% of his throws for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

If Sanders does want a fresh start, von Gontard won’t have long to work. The league’s trade deadline arrives at 4 p.m. on Nov. 10.