Football player Shedeur Sanders was picked by the Cleveland Browns during the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
The riveting tale of NFL quarterback Shedeur Sanders unfolded during the 2025 draft, as the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and former Colorado Buffaloes coach witnessed an unexpected plummet down the rankings. Many had predicted a first-round lock for Sanders, with some even envisioning him as high as the No. 3 pick for the New York Giants or No. 21 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yet, he remained undrafted for the first two nights, leaving many on the edge of their seats.
Ultimately, Sanders found a home with the Cleveland Browns, selected in the fifth round with the 144th pick. The road to the Browns, however, was littered with obstacles, as five quarterbacks - Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Dillon Gabriel - were chosen ahead of him.
Minutes post-draft, Sanders took to social media to express his gratitude, with a simple "Thank you GOD" on platform X. The Browns quickly responded, releasing a sizzle reel featuring Sanders and captioning it, "Another playmaker in the mix."
In a team statement, Andrew Berry, the executive vice president and general manager of the Browns, shared his enthusiasm for Sanders, praising his sharp accuracy, ball security, and ability to lead the team from the pocket.
As the newest addition to a burgeoning Cleveland quarterback stable, Sanders joins Dillon Gabriel as the Browns' second quarterback draft pick of the season. Although veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are already on the roster, the newly-minted Browns quarterback might just be the wild card the team needs.
Interestingly, Sanders began his college career at Jackson State in 2021, following his father. After one season, both father and son moved to Colorado, where Shedeur spent the rest of his college career. In his senior year, Sanders clinched the Big 12 offensive player of the year title with a remarkable 74.0% completion rate, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. It's noteworthy that before his arrival, Colorado's football program had only managed to win one game in the previous season. In Sanders' final season with the Buffaloes, the team secured a whopping nine wins, their most since 2016.
Despite his impressive collegiate achievements, Sanders' draft position was influenced by factors beyond his control. Concerns about his arm strength and mobility, as well as perceptions of his celebrity status and confidence, may have influenced teams' decisions to pass on him in the earlier rounds. The Detroit Lions, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, and initially the Browns all opted for other prospects instead of taking a chance on Sanders.
Insights: 1. Sanders' slide in the NFL draft was due to questions about his physical abilities, concerns over his celebrity status, and teams favoring other quarterback prospects for reasons unclear to the public. 2. The five quarterbacks chosen ahead of Sanders heaped projected expectations on those rookies, while Cleveland believed Sanders had the potential for pinpoint accuracy and mental toughness that could make him a valuable asset.
- Despite being a son of a Hall of Famer and boasting impressive college statistics, Shedeur Sanders was undrafted for the first two nights of the 2025 NFL Draft, leaving many in anticipation.
- Defying the odds, Sanders was eventually selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round with the 144th pick, though several quarterbacks were chosen ahead of him.
- Brushing off his draft position, Sanders took to social media to express gratitude and the Browns quickly responded, confirming their excitement about his addition to their American football team.
- As the second quarterback draft pick for the Browns in 2025, Sanders now finds himself in a competitive quarterback stable, with some speculating that he could be the wild card the team needs in NFL football.
