Shedeur Sanders’ stunning slide finally came to an end.
Once considered a candidate to be the first overall pick, the Colorado quarterback fell all the way to No. 144 before the Cleveland Browns took him Saturday in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Cleveland traded up to do so, sending the No. 166 and No. 192 picks to the Seattle Seahawks to land the most polarizing prospect in this year’s draft class.
“Thank you GOD,” Sanders, who did not attend the draft in Green Bay, wrote on social media shortly after his name was called. He celebrated being drafted by pulling off his shirt and jumping into a pool.
Sanders, the high-profile son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, was the sixth quarterback to come off the board — and the second drafted by the Browns, who selected Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel two rounds earlier.
The Browns passed on Sanders six times before they moved up 22 slots to take him with the sixth pick of the fifth round.
“We live by our board,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said. “We felt like he was a good, solid prospect at the most important position. We felt like it got to a point where he was probably mispriced relative to the draft. Really, the acquisition cost was pretty light, and it’s a guy that we think can out-produce his draft slot.”
Entering the offseason, debates raged over whether Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward was the best quarterback prospect. But the big-armed Ward quickly established himself as the consensus top choice, and the Tennessee Titans took him with the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s first round.
The ultra-confident Sanders’ stock seemed to slide in the weeks leading up to the draft, but he was still widely expected to go in the first round or by the early second.
Last season, Sanders led the country with a 74.0% completion percentage, ranked second with 37 touchdown passes and took the resurgent Buffaloes to a 9-4 record.
Evaluators touted his accuracy and toughness but were less bullish on his arm strength, athleticism and propensity to hold onto the ball too long. He took an FBS-high 42 sacks in 2024.
Recent reports raised questions about Sanders’ performance during the pre-draft process.
The Ringer’s Todd McShay reported Sanders “didn’t have a great interview with Brian Daboll” and was not prepared for an install package during a private workout with the Giants.
The reviews were more mixed among the coaches and scouts who spoke anonymously with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, but one assistant called Sanders “entitled” and said he gave “the worst formal interview I’ve ever been in in my life.”
The slide began Thursday, when quarterback-needy teams including the Giants at No. 3, Browns at No. 5, New Orleans Saints at No. 9 and Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21 all passed on him with their first selections.
The Giants, who spent considerable time scouting Sanders, passed on him again when they traded back into the first round to take Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart at No. 25.
The Saints drafted Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the No. 40 pick, and the Seahawks selected Alabama’s Jalen Milroe at No. 92.
In perhaps the biggest stunner, Cleveland drafted the much-less-heralded Gabriel at No. 94.
But Sanders ultimately ended up with the Browns, who offer a desirable landing spot.
With Deshaun Watson’s status uncertain after he re-tore his right Achilles tendon in January, the Browns’ quarterback room of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders does not feature a clear-cut starter.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski’s system is suited for pocket passers, which fits Sanders’ skill set.
The Browns were originally considered an option for Sanders with the No. 2 overall pick, which they traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday. The Jags then used that pick to draft another Colorado star in two-way sensation Travis Hunter.
Sanders, who stands at 6-1 ½ and 212 pounds, was a four-year collegiate starter, spending his first two years at Jackson State and the last two at Colorado.
His father was his head coach at both stops.
Sanders threw for at least 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns in all four seasons. His 71.8% completion percentage over his two years at Colorado gave him the highest career mark among FBS quarterbacks ever.
But Sanders’ situation became more and more complicated as he remained on the board. Quarterbacks taken on the third day of the draft are generally viewed as developmental players, and teams are typically reluctant to employ high-profile backup quarterbacks.
“Obviously, Shedeur has grown up in the spotlight, but our expectation is for him to come in here and work and compete,” Berry said. “Nothing’s been promised. Nothing will be given.”
Originally Published: April 26, 2025 at 2:18 PM EDT
