Browns Quarterback Shedeur Sanders Hires an Agent for the First Time, Fueling Trade Rumors

Browns backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders has hired NFL agent Adi von Gontard, and multiple sources say the backup QB may be preparing to explore a trade.

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Shidor Sanders has hired an NFL agent for the first time, and while that's usually what a player wanting a new contract would do, the Cleveland Browns quarterback isn't the main reason for the move.

Sanders, in just his second season since being hired in 2025, hired APAA Sports' Young Money's Addie Von Gunthard as his first NFL agent.

It's a logical choice because Guntard currently represents Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter. Hunter and Sanders were teammates and friends at the University of Colorado and entered the same 2025 draft.

The Browns choose Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback despite the home crowd booing him and his comments about 17 games away.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shidor Sanders (12) returns for a pass in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 16, 2025. (Scott Galvin/Imagn Images)

But the fact that Sanders, after going through the process and now hiring a strong draft agent, endured a disappointing first day in which he hoped to be a first-round pick but fell to the fifth and signed his rookie contract without an agent is curious.

Young Money APAA Sports did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But multiple NFL sources tell OutKick they believe Sanders has hired an agent because he's ready to push for a trade from the Cleveland Browns.

It should be noted that the NFL is full of rumors and none of the sources talking about Sanders are directly related to his family.

But that's pretty much how the NFL works, so it makes sense.

Deshaun Watson remains the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback, but that has an expiration date.

Just two weeks ago, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. hired an agent for the first time, and over the weekend, the Houston Texans confirmed that they had traded him.

Minkah Fitzpatrick (2019), Za'Darius Smith (2023) and Haason Reddick (2024) all signed new agents as they attempted to be traded.

Sanders now finds himself as a backup quarterback in Cleveland after losing the starting job to veteran Deshaun Watson. Coach Todd Munken's decision to start Watson wasn't unexpected, but it was nonetheless disappointing for Sanders.

Sanders has largely relegated to the shadows like most backup quarterbacks. But it's no secret around the league that he wants to play and believes he can help a team.

That opportunity, however, does not appear to be on Cleveland's horizon.

Watson, 31, hasn't been great in leading the Browns to a 3-2 record. But he was not a disaster either.

His seven touchdown passes match the combined total of Josh Allen and Sam Darnold. And he has fewer interceptions (2) than either player.

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Watson's 94.1 passer rating isn't spectacular either, but it's better than the likes of Derrick Maye, Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Hurts and even Matthew Stafford.

And yes, Cleveland is 10th in the league with 93 points. But some of that certainly has to do with the fact that the Browns' offensive line has been inconsistent, coach Todd Munken's offense is a work in progress and the running game is in flux.

The point is, the picture of the Browns' offense isn't something that suggests Watson is about to be benched and Sanders promoted.

So what does a player who believes he should be playing elsewhere do? He can grit his teeth, remain silent and do nothing.

Or he can grit his teeth, keep quiet, and hire an agent to do something on his behalf. Afterward, the new agent approaches the team on the player's behalf in a trade request — which is rarely a pleasant conversation.

It makes sense that if Sanders wanted a chance elsewhere, he would hire someone to make the case on his behalf rather than fight the battle himself.

The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. So, yes, the timing of hiring an agent raises eyebrows

This smoke adds to the rumors that were already smoking.

Armando Salguero is the senior writer for NFL OutKick.

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