Shedeur Sanders, a highly regarded quarterback prospect, was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 5th round with the 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite preseason expectations that he might be drafted as early as the first round or second round, Sanders experienced a significant drop, falling to the fifth round and becoming the sixth quarterback taken.
Reasons for the Draft Slide
Several factors contributed to Sanders' unexpected slide:
- Scouts and NFL teams had concerns about his playing style, such as holding the ball too long leading to sacks and questions about his arm strength.
- His demeanor and evaluation in pre-draft meetings were reportedly less than ideal, with suggestions he overestimated his value, skipped key evaluation events like the NFL scouting combine and All-Star games, and declined to meet some teams.
- His status as the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and being coached by his father in college may have "clouded" projections of his potential.
- Some insiders suggested a "human element" where teams preferred to avoid potential distractions from a player still developing leadership qualities.
- Racial dynamics and perceptions of his personality and presentation style were also part of the conversation around his draft evaluation.
- NFL decision-makers may have had different evaluations than scouts, leading to a divergence in his draft stock.
Cleveland Browns' Decision
The Browns traded up in the 5th round to secure Sanders after already drafting another quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, in the 3rd round. Browns' General Manager Andrew Berry indicated that the decision was based on maximizing value given the steep discount of selecting Sanders at that position compared to the alternatives available.
Summary
Shedeur Sanders, once considered a potential first-round pick and one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class, was ultimately picked in the 5th round due to a combination of on-field concerns, pre-draft behavior, draft process management, and external perceptions related to his background and personality. The Browns chose him as a value pick and to bolster their quarterback group despite the unexpected fall in his draft position.
