Draft Day Arrival: Shedeur Sanders' Years of Aspirations Realized as Browns Select Him in Round Five
Shedeur Sanders, the Colorado quarterback with a famous last name, wasn't bothered by his unexpectedly long wait to get drafted. With a chill attitude, he danced and jumped into a pool when the Cleveland Browns finally called his name in the fifth round, ignoring the prank calls and the draft forecasts that had him going much higher.
Sanders was projected to be one of the top quarterbacks in the class, but he fell to the 144th overall pick. Many analysts had even rated him behind only Miami's Cam Ward, yet five other quarterbacks were taken before him. A few even ended up on Cleveland's roster, including Dillon Gabriel, who went in the third round.
The Browns were surprised to find Sanders still available in the fifth round. "Best player available" and "positional value" seemed to be their motto as they traded their fifth-round and sixth-round picks to acquire him, agreeing that he was too good to pass up.
Despite the long wait, Sanders showed no signs of being discouraged. His family and fans cheered him on during the draft on Twitch, and he danced and donned a Browns cap with excitement when the call finally came. The rollercoaster ride of emotions was evident when he jumped into a swimming pool to celebrate.
The NFL draft has seen many quarterbacks tumble down draft boards before, and it has often worked out well for them. Dan Marino, for example, was the sixth quarterback taken in the 1983 draft and went 27th overall to Miami, where he spent his entire Hall of Fame career. Aaron Rodgers was initially projected to go among the first few picks in 2005 but went 24th to Green Bay, where he won four MVP awards and a Super Bowl.
But Sanders' fall might be one of the steepest among quarterbacks. Despite finishing eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting and throwing for a school-record 4,134 yards, he found himself being overlooked by other teams. Some of the quarterbacks taken before him even ended up on Cleveland's roster.
Sanders remains undeterred, ready to prove his worth in the NFL. He attributes his motivation to his purpose in life and the fact that he was given an opportunity when others didn't believe in him. His arrival in Cleveland adds to a crowded quarterback room, with Deshaun Watson expected to sit out the upcoming season.
While Sanders' sliding draft position can be attributed to concerns about his mobility and arm strength, as well as his father's public handling of the draft process, his exceptional college stats show his potential. With a completion rate of 74%, a total of 88 touchdowns thrown, and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award, Sanders represents excellent value for the Browns in the fifth round. Now, it's up to him to show whether he can adapt to the professional game and live up to his college success.
- Upon learning that he was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, Shedeur Sanders, the Colorado quarterback, celebrated exuberantly by jumping into a swimming pool, despite many analysts' predictions that he would be drafted much higher.
- Despite being undervalued by several teams in the NFL draft, Sanders still possesses impressive stats from his college career, including a completion rate of 74%, 88 touchdowns thrown, and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award.
- The announcement of Shedeur Sanders being taken by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round came as a surprise to many, given that he had been expected to compete with other quarterbacks vying for top picks in the draft.
- A video of Shedeur Sanders' elated reaction to being selected by the Cleveland Browns can now be found streaming on Twitch, capturing the joy of his family, friends, and fans as he donned his new team's cap.
- With some questioning his mobility and arm strength, as well as the perceived impact of his father's public handling of the draft process, Shedeur Sanders has been described as one of the steepest fallers among quarterbacks in the recent NFL draft, behind even the profiles of quarterbacks such as Dillon Gabriel who were taken before him by the Cleveland Browns.
