The NFL dream of Shedeur Sanders began with a bit of a nightmare.
The son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders had to wait until the third day of the 2025 draft to hear his name called from the stage in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which finally happened when the Cleveland Browns selected him with the sixth pick of the fifth round (144th overall), making him the sixth quarterback taken in the draft.
Sanders, who played for his father “Coach Prime” at Jackson State and Colorado and has been coached by him for his entire life, was the sixth quarterback taken in the class. Miami’s Cam Ward (first overall, Tennessee Titans), Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart (25th, New York Giants) and Louisville’s Tyler Shough (40th overall, New Orleans Saints) were selected ahead of Sanders. The Cleveland Browns, thought to be a landing spot for Sanders, didn’t use either of their early picks in the second round on Sanders.
The Browns selected quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round (94th overall) after the Seattle Seahawks picked Jalen Milroe two picks earlier.
Sanders started his college career at Jackson State and transferred to Colorado to continue playing for his father. Over two seasons, he posted a 13-11 as a starter in the Big 12. He set a Colorado single-season record with 4,134 passing yards last season – having No. 2 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter as a target certainly helped – and accounted for 41 touchdowns (37 passing) with 10 interceptions.
Shedeur Sanders pranked during NFL draft by caller pretending to be general manager
That Sanders was not taken during Thursday’s first round became a lightning rod in spaces that ranged from sports talk shows to the President of the United States. Sanders had been forecasted as a first-round pick, while others classified him as a second-round talent. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. pounded the table for Sanders throughout the first round and continued to do so as the second round started. President Donald Trump wrote on social media that Sanders should be drafted “IMMEDIATELY.”
The Browns also have Deshaun Watson on the roster, who is currently rehabilitating a torn Achilles. The owner of the team, Jimmy Haslam, recently said the team ‘took a big swing and miss’ on Watson.
Sanders felt he was worthy of a first-round pick and told a group gathered at the Sanders family home in Texas “this shouldn’t have happened.” Many wondered whether the presence of “Coach Prime” and the hype surrounding his son affected Shedeur Sanders’ evaluation within NFL front offices and coaching staffs. Sanders does not possess the same athleticism as his father, a defensive back who also played Major League Baseball. Rather, he’s a pure pocket passer who is polished mechanically and takes care of the football.
Shedeur Sanders drafted by Browns: Reaction from the football world
The Browns also have Deshaun Watson on the roster, who is currently rehabilitating a torn Achilles. The owner of the team, Jimmy Haslam, recently said the team ‘took a big swing and miss’ on Watson.
Prior to the draft, Sanders had been linked to the Browns and Steelers, in addition to the Giants and Raiders. Sanders and Hunter both had their Colorado jerseys retired earlier in April.