Browns were so close to Shedeur Sanders-Travis Hunter NFL Draft combination of Colorado legends

No one could've known at the time just what would happen with Shedeur Sanders.

On Thursday night, what feels like eons ago in NFL Draft time, the Cleveland Browns traded out of the No. 2 pick, allowing the Jacksonville Jaguars to trade up and take Travis Hunter.

The Browns picked up a huge draft pick haul and got Michigan DT Mason Graham at the No. 5 spot. But now, two days later, it's time to wonder what could've been.

Cleveland could've had Hunter, the most talented, unique player of his generation.

And then, at some point after that, maybe still all the way down at the shocking No. 144 spot in the fifth round, they could've had Sanders.

MORE: Shedeur Sanders' draft slide doesn't matter anymore

The Browns got the Sanders part right. Whether or not the choice to go away from Hunter was correct will only be determined over the next decade.

That would've been such a hype-filled combination for Cleveland. The duo was at Jackson State and then Colorado together, one of the best tandems in all of college football throughout their careers.

Instead, they're heading to opposing AFC teams.

MORE: Shedeur Sanders draft pick is weirdest one in NFL Draft history

Looming over all of this is the best future pick the Browns acquired from Jacksonville, the Jags' 2026 first-round pick. That could be way up there.

There's still the possibility the Browns target QB next year, too, considering how weird their whole 2025 draft has been.

Draftniks wondered if Cleveland would trade back into Thursday's first round to take Sanders after staying put and getting Hunter.

MORE: Shedeur Sanders will start when he's ready and could rescue Browns QB woes

If the Browns had known they could get Hunter at No. 2 and then Sanders at No. 144, would they have stayed put?

It's a massive "What if?" in Cleveland's franchise history, an awesome story that will instead never be written.

MORE NFL DRAFT:

• Browns' Travis Hunter trade mistake could be a generational error
• Raiders' Jack Bech draft pick honors brother Tiger after death
• Shedeur Sanders compared to Colin Kaepernick
• Bills' draft picks haven't been flashy but instead designed to beat the Chiefs
• 49ers' draft picks point to Brock Purdy $300 million contract decision
• Colts draft grades earn top marks for Ohio State's J.T. Tuimoloau
• Browns' Arch Manning pursuit is alive and well for 2026 NFL Draft
• Patrick Mahomes gives his take on Shedeur Sanders
• Geno Smith, Jalen Milroe will be forever linked by NFL Draft
• Meet new Giants RB Cam Skattebo, with giant quads and a fun name
• Jaguars have their lightning-quick Travis Etienne replacement
• Bills take humongous defensive star out of SEC
• Jets pick a WR whose one main issue is 'hands'
• Panthers take Trevor Etienne, with NFL pedigree and a bit of controversy
• Texans' Woody Marks has best Toy Story Halloween nickname origin
• Chiefs draft Patrick Mahomes' next Tyreek Hill