Shedeur Sanders made his debut in the full Cleveland Browns uniform during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere, showcasing his No. 12 jersey in an image shared by the NFL on social media. This event, which took place from May 14-17 in Los Angeles, featured 42 rookies from the 2025 NFL Draft.

Throughout his college career, Sanders wore No. 2, while his former teammate at Colorado, the Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, donned No. 12. Hunter will be continuing with the same number now that he has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. During an interview shared by the Browns, Andrew Siciliano noted that Sanders' choice of No. 12 stands in contrast to the number worn by his father, Deion Sanders, during his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys. Sanders humorously acknowledged this, suggesting that it does indeed convey a message.

At the Rookie Premiere, which is jointly hosted by NFL Players Inc. and the NFL Players Association, Sanders was reunited with Hunter. The event also featured notable first-round picks from the 2025 Draft, including Cam Ward, Abdul Carter, Jaxson Dart, and Ashton Jeanty. According to the NFLPA, the purpose of the event is to introduce these emerging athletes to the commercial aspects of professional football, thereby laying the groundwork for potential endorsement opportunities and financial empowerment. Following a surprising fall to the fifth round in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders recently completed a rookie minicamp alongside third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, who will wear No. 5 in his rookie season. Both players are now gearing up to compete against veteran quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett for playing time as the upcoming season approaches, with OTA offseason workouts set to begin on May 27.