Shedeur Sanders has spent the regular season backing up Deshaun Watson after losing the Cleveland Browns’ QB competition. Rap legend Lil Wayne believes the wait will pay off in Cleveland.
On the “Gridiron” podcast with Skip Bayless on Friday, the rapper said he doesn’t want to see Sanders anywhere other than Cleveland, even as trade rumors surface involving the Browns’ backup QB.
This is noteworthy because Wayne co-founded Young Money APAA Sports, and Sanders recently joined the agency, hiring the Young Money APAA Sports’ Adie von Gontard as his first NFL agent.
Lil Wayne Wants Shedeur Sanders to Remain in Cleveland
Wayne did not mention the agency or Sanders’ decision to hire von Gontard in his answer, but he made it clear that he wants Deion Sanders’ son to remain in Cleveland.
“Oh, no. I just want to see Shedeur be Shedeur because wherever he is, you know, he has that,” Wayne said when asked whether he wants Shedeur to leave Cleveland. “Also, I need him to get his opportunity, and I think where he is, he’s going to get that opportunity.”
Bayless replied with one line: “I hope he’s right.”
However, in August, Bayless previously pushed for the opposite to happen, as he called for the Browns to trade Sanders right after the former Colorado QB lost the starting job to Watson. Sanders, a fifth-round pick in 2025, signed his rookie contract without an agent.
Some viewed Sanders’ decision to hire an agent as a response to his lack of playing time and perhaps a way to orchestrate a trade out of Cleveland, especially with Watson playing relatively well. Outkick recently reported that “multiple NFL sources are telling OutKick they believe Sanders has hired representation because he’s getting ready to press for a trade from the Cleveland Browns.”
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Notably, von Gontard also represents Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter, who played with Sanders at Colorado.
Meanwhile, the opportunity Wayne talked about hasn’t come yet this season. Sanders has thrown one pass, a completion for 0 yards. As a rookie in 2025, Sanders started seven games and completed 120 of 212 passes for 1,400 yards, with 7 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Watson has the Browns at 3-2, second in the AFC North. He completed 15 of 33 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown and was sacked eight times in last Sunday’s 17-12 loss to the New York Jets. At present, Deshaun Watson is 23rd in the PFN’s QB Impact metric with a 70.0 grade. For comparison, Sanders posted a 63.0 grade and ranked 37th out of 38 eligible quarterbacks last season.
With the trade deadline set for Nov. 10 at 4 p.m., the open question is whether Sanders presses for a move or gets the opportunity Wayne expects in Cleveland.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.