The Cleveland Browns made a surprising selection in the fifth round of the NFL draft by choosing Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the 144th pick, despite many considering him a first-round prospect. Sanders, who was projected to go as high as third overall to the New York Giants or 21st to the Pittsburgh Steelers, was notably undrafted during the initial rounds, with five other quarterbacks being picked ahead of him: Miami’s Cam Ward, Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart, Louisville’s Tyler Shough, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.
Immediately after the selection, Sanders expressed his gratitude on social media, stating, “Thank you GOD.” The Browns celebrated the acquisition by sharing a highlight reel of Sanders, referring to him as “Another playmaker in the mix.” Prior to being drafted, NBC Sports ranked him as the best unselected prospect, placing him 30th on their draft board.
Shedeur, son of NFL Hall-of-Famer and Colorado coach Deion Sanders, began his college career at Jackson State in 2021 and made a significant impact at Colorado after transitioning there following the 2022 season. In his senior year, he excelled as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, completing 74% of his passes, achieving 4,134 yards, and recording 37 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. His leadership was instrumental in Colorado’s revival; the team improved from only one victory the previous year to nine wins in 2024, marking their best season since 2016.
Despite his on-field success, Sanders faced scrutiny regarding his character from scouts and coaches leading up to the draft, which may have contributed to his unexpected slide in the selection process.
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