The Cleveland Browns selected Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the 144th pick in the fifth round of the NFL draft, marking an unexpected drop for a player widely seen as a potential first-round pick. Many projections had Sanders going as high as No. 3 to the New York Giants or No. 21 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he went undrafted on the first two nights. Ultimately, five quarterbacks—Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Dillon Gabriel—were chosen ahead of him.
Immediately after his selection, Sanders expressed his gratitude on social media with the message, “Thank you GOD.” The Browns celebrated his addition by releasing a highlight reel, emphasizing Sanders as “another playmaker in the mix.” Prior to the draft, NBC Sports analyst Connor Rogers ranked him as the top prospect still available by the fifth round.
Sanders, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and the quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, began his collegiate career at Jackson State in 2021 under his father’s coaching before transferring to Colorado. In his senior season, he earned the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award, completing 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. His performance played a significant role in Colorado’s turnaround, lifting the team from just one win the previous season to nine victories in 2024, their first winning record since 2016. Despite his on-field prowess, questions about his character off the field arose during the draft process, adding complexity to his draft expectations.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
