Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Dream Comes True: Browns Select Him in the 5th Round After a Long Wait

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shedeur Sanders faced a surprising wait during the NFL Draft, but he kept a positive spirit. Despite the unexpected delay and even a prank call, he maintained his upbeat attitude. When the Cleveland Browns picked him in the fifth round—much later than many anticipated—he celebrated by dancing and jumping into a pool.

“You can’t let it get you down,” Sanders said. “When we score, we celebrate. Then it’s back to work. It’s just a game to me.” His selection at the 144th pick was a shock, especially given that many projections had him going much earlier, potentially in the first round.

Experts had rated Sanders behind only Miami’s Cam Ward, who was the first quarterback taken overall. Instead, five quarterbacks were chosen before him. Browns general manager Andrew Berry acknowledged that selecting two quarterbacks wasn’t the original plan, but they took the best player available when Sanders fell to them.

Sanders let out his emotions when he finally received the call. His brother Shilo streamed the moment live. Sanders was all smiles as he donned a Browns cap, ready to embrace the opportunity ahead of him. “I’m just thankful for the chance,” he remarked. “The rest is on me.”

This isn’t the first time a highly-rated quarterback has faced an unexpected drop in the draft. Historical examples include Dan Marino and Aaron Rodgers, both of whom enjoyed successful careers despite not being top picks. In recent memory, Will Levis was viewed as a first-round talent but fell to the second round. Sanders’ situation, however, may be one of the steepest falls in recent draft history.

Last season, he set a school record with over 4,100 passing yards and finished eighth in the Heisman voting, yet he had to wait much longer than expected. As quarterbacks like Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe were selected ahead of him, Sanders stayed focused on what truly matters—his purpose and potential.

He enters a crowded quarterback landscape in Cleveland. With Deshaun Watson possibly sitting out due to injury, Sanders will be competing with veterans like Joe Flacco and others. Interestingly, Cleveland is the first team since 2012 to draft two quarterbacks in the first five rounds.

Many critics pointed to Sanders’ high sack count of 94 during his time at Colorado as a red flag. Others wondered how he would perform under different coaches. His father, Deion Sanders, has often shared his thoughts on where his sons should play, adding another layer of pressure.

“It was tough watching rounds go by without my name being called,” Sanders said. “But all I need is an opportunity.”

This year’s draft also saw key players like Cam Skattebo from Arizona State and Dylan Sampson from Tennessee finding homes in the later rounds. Quarterbacks from the last national championship game were also selected, highlighting the depth of talent available.

Still, with only 14 players from Ohio State being drafted, they fell just short of the record set by Georgia in 2022.

As Shedeur Sanders prepares for his NFL career, he aims to prove skeptics wrong and show the world what he can achieve. “You have to work and earn your place,” he said. “That’s my goal now.”

For more on the NFL draft, visit the official site: AP NFL.

Check out this related article: 2025 NFL Draft: Shedeur Sanders Shines and Struggles, Plus Tom Brady’s Surprising Impact on Winners and Losers!

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