A Rollercoaster Dive for Shedeur Sanders: From Top Prospect to Fifth-Round Draft Pick
Kevin Stefanski delivers a potent message to Shedeur Sanders following NFL Draft pick announcement
The tumultuous journey of Shedeur Sanders finally came to an end when the Cleveland Browns snagged him with the No. 144 pick. New head coach Kevin Stefanski personally delivered a blunt yet motivational message to the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback: "Prove all the people that passed on you wrong."
Building Anticipation: Stefanski and Browns Back Sanders' Comeback
In the whirlwind of the 2025 NFL draft, Sanders found himself at the heart of the maelstrom as he plummeted Day 3. His senior season had appeared to solidify his status as one of the top quarterback prospects, amassing 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, resulting in a 9-4 finish with Colorado. Ironically, Sanders' father Deion once tweeted that he would never trust the Browns with a franchise quarterback.
ване Cleveland's history with quarterbacks might make one wary, the Browns have been notorious for cycling through signal-callers since their reinstatement as an expansion franchise in 1999. Tallying 40 different quarterbacks since then, they've had a rough go of it, especially in recent years, switching through eight since parting ways with Baker Mayfield before the 2022 season.
As the upcoming season approaches, Sanders will join a crowded quarterback room. Star signal caller Deshaun Watson is unlikely to take the field in 2025 after a January re-rupture of his Achilles tendon. This paves the way for one of the team's other quarterbacks to seize the starting position.
Besides Sanders, the Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel from Oregon in the third round and traded for Kenny Pickett and a late-round pick earlier this offseason. The team also re-acquainted with Joe Flacco in free agency. If Sanders follows Stefanski's advice, he could conjure quite a redemption story after his unexpected plunge in the draft.
The Browns' Quarterback Council
- Joe Flacco: The seasoned veteran remains the top pick for Week 1, due to his experience and past success with the team[2].
- Kenny Pickett: Acquired in a 2024 trade, he serves as backup for Flacco[2][4].
- Dillon Gabriel: Chosen in the third round (No. 94), praised for his accuracy and poise, likely to be a work-in-progress for the medium term[1][2].
- Shedeur Sanders: Selected in the fifth round (No. 144), viewed as a high-potential prospect for long-term development[3][5].
- Deshaun Watson: Sidelined for 2025 due to a preseason Achilles injury, with uncertainty surrounding his long-term future[4][5].
Sanders' Path to Power
- Competitive Battle Ahead: Expected to compete for playing time in a revamped quarterback room but faces stiff competition for immediate opportunities[3][4].
- Long-Term Prospects: Cleveland traded up to select him, citing his accuracy and productivity, despite concerns over off-field distractions[5].
- Roster Uncertainty: Sanders could vie for the QB3 spot or practice squad, possible unsavory outcomes including him failing to make the 53-man roster[4].
- Despite his father's reservations, Shedeur Sanders heeds the advice of Kevin Stefanski and sets his sights on proving the haters wrong, after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.
- Rumors swirl in the sports world as the Browns' quarterback room becomes more crowded, with the addition of Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Kenny Pickett, and the return of Joe Flacco.
- Even as Abdul Abdul-Saboor's tumultuous journey comes to an end, the Cleveland Browns' history with quarterbacks continues to raise eyebrows, as they cycle through players like Dorian Johnson and Shedeur Sanders.
- As the NFL season draws near, the Cleveland Browns' quarterback council faces a competitive battle, with Shedeur Sanders determined to seize the starting position, if given the chance to heed the message of his coach.
