The Philadelphia Eagles hit the latest stage of the 2025 NFL offseason when they held their annual rookie minicamp over the weekend. The Eagles had one of the strongest showings at last month's draft, and the annual first-year showcase offered fans and media their first glimpse of how Philadelphia's future is shaping up post-Super Bowl 59 win.
As the Eagles evaluate the weekend's results, other teams are preparing to hold their rookie minicamps this weekend. Interestingly enough, one former Philadelphia player is already creating some drama with a new rookie teammate just days before the latter makes his minicamp debut.
Former Eagles WR DeAndre Carter Steals No. 2 From Browns Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns left the 2025 NFL draft with a handful of promising rookies, including former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The 23-year-old signal-caller has already been involved in his fair share of drama early into his football career, and the latest involves none other than ex-Eagles wideout DeAndre Carter.
Sanders is known for wearing No. 2 throughout his collegiate career, but that won't be the case anymore. The rookie QB is being forced to start his career wearing No. 12 because Carter will be rocking No. 2, according to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot.
#Browns jersey numbers for newcomers and changes: CB Martin Emerson Jr. — 1
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) May 6, 2025
WR DeAndre Carter — 2
QB Kenny Pickett — 8
CB Tony Brown II — 11
WR Diontae Johnson — 16
LB Jerome Baker — 17
CB Nik Needham — 25
K Andre Szmyt — 38
DE Julian Okwara — 53
OT Cornelius Lucas — 71
G Teven…
There tends to be an unspoken rule in sports that sees veterans get priority when it comes to jersey number selection. Having said that, despite all the time he's spent in the NFL, Carter's choice to take Sanders' number is already rubbing fans the wrong way.
Carter has done little in the NFL to command that level of respect in terms of on-field performance. Even though he's played 107 games across seven seasons, the former Sacramento State product has only hauled in 117 catches for 1,331 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He's played games with six franchises across that stretch, which includes seven contests with the Eagles in 2017.
If that isn't bad enough, Carter has gone scoreless in back-to-back seasons, only recording 13 receptions for 111 yards in 30 games over the last two years.
Meanwhile, Sanders has the potential to be the Browns' next franchise quarterback. He's yet to play an NFL snap, sure, but that doesn't change the fact that he's more important to Cleveland's long-term plans than Carter, who's playing on a one-year contract. The last thing the ex-Eagles WR should want is unnecessary drama before he's even made his Browns debut.
There's always a chance that Carter won't last long enough in Cleveland to even wear No. 2. The 32-year-old wideout's playing history proves he doesn't stay anywhere for long, and an unimpressive offseason performance could entice the Browns to move on before the 2025 season begins.
After all, a post-June 1 cut would save the Browns $430,000 while a trade would net $1.03 million in savings, according to Spotrac.
In the meantime, Eagles fans will continue to watch Carter's drama from afar. If the former Philadelphia playmaker keeps causing drama with his new team and rookie QB, chances are he'll be looking for yet another new home sooner rather than later.