Off-field decisions can shape an NFL career almost as much as what happens between the lines. Contract negotiations, endorsements and trade conversations all run through a player’s representation, and choosing the right agent can open doors that might otherwise stay closed. Most players make that choice long before they hear their name called on draft night. One Browns quarterback took a different route, and he has now made a change.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Shedeur Sanders has hired an agent.
“Browns QB Shedeur Sanders, who went through draft night and the early part of his NFL career without an agent, has signed with Adie von Gontard, CEO of Young Money APAA Sports, for representation. With the signing, YMAPAA now represents former Colorado teammates Travis Hunter and Sanders.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders, who went through draft night and the early part of his NFL career without an agent, has signed with Adie von Gontard, CEO of Young Money APAA Sports, for representation.
With the signing, YMAPAA now represents former Colorado teammates Travis Hunter… pic.twitter.com/eQxhlCbc7Q
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 14, 2026
Shedeur Sanders’ decision to go without an agent was one of the more unusual storylines of the 2025 draft. He leaned on his inner circle instead, a choice that drew plenty of attention as he slid to the Browns in the 5th round.
Signing with Adie von Gontard puts him under the same umbrella as Travis Hunter, his former teammate at Colorado. Hunter’s path carries some significance in Cleveland, as the Browns traded the No. 2 overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025, and Jacksonville used it to select him.
The timing of the move is worth noting. Sanders is in his 2nd season and currently sits behind Deshaun Watson on the depth chart, and his name has surfaced repeatedly in trade speculation.
The Browns, however, have signaled a different plan. It has been reported that the team would prefer to keep all 4 of its quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, even with Dillon Gabriel working his way back from injured reserve.
Having representation does not change Sanders’ contract situation in the short term, as he remains on his rookie deal. But an agent can help him navigate the bigger picture, from marketing opportunities to conversations about his future if his role in Cleveland does not grow.
That future is closely tied to Watson’s. Watson is in the final year of his contract, and how the rest of this season unfolds will help determine whether Sanders gets a genuine chance to compete for the starting job in 2027 or goes looking for that opportunity elsewhere.
Sanders has always done things his own way, and bringing in an agent signals that he is preparing for the next phase of his career. Whether that phase happens in Cleveland may be one of the most intriguing questions facing the Browns as the season and the trade deadline approach.
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