Shedeur Sanders’ Wild NFL Draft Story: A Shocking Fifth-Round Twist That Left Fans and Front Office Stunned
The NFL Draft is always filled with suspense, surprises, and speculation—but few stories in 2025 were as unpredictable and strange as Shedeur Sanders’ journey. Known for his pedigree and college success, many expected Sanders to be selected much earlier. But what unfolded caught even insiders off guard.
Star: Cleveland Browns CB Greg Newsome on the NFL Draft:
“I like Shedeur…I like a QB that just got that IT factor… If you coming in there with that confidence and swagger…That’s my type of guy.”
It seems like the Browns’ locker room has already decided they want Shedeur… pic.twitter.com/JtMLvKiI8j
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 28, 2025
The Cleveland Browns first made waves by picking Dillon Gabriel in the third round. With Sanders still on the board, this move gave the impression that they were passing on him completely. That made it all the more shocking when, just two rounds later, the same team traded up to select Sanders as the 144th overall pick. Choosing two quarterbacks in a single draft raised eyebrows across the league, but it was the reaction afterward that sparked deeper questions.
Instead of celebrating what many saw as a steal, the Browns’ head coach and general manager gave off an odd vibe—no excitement, no press buzz, just a reserved and distant demeanor. The lack of enthusiasm fed into rumors that the decision to draft Sanders hadn’t come from the coaching staff, but rather from ownership.
Despite that behind-the-scenes drama, things looked different on the field and in the locker room. Sanders immediately won over teammates with his confident demeanor and leadership qualities. One of the team’s star defenders expressed admiration for Sanders’ charisma and swagger, likening his vibe to that of other greats who backed up their talk with action.
This all came after Sanders, a highly accomplished college quarterback with over 7,300 passing yards and 64 touchdowns in two years, slipped far below expectations in the draft. A product of Jackson State and Colorado, and the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, his slide to the fifth round puzzled many analysts.
Adding another layer to the drama, Sanders was briefly the victim of a cruel prank. During the draft, he received a fake call claiming he’d been picked by another team. The person behind the prank, a coach’s son, eventually apologized, but the incident stirred even more conversation about how Sanders had been treated throughout the draft process.
Internally, reports began surfacing about tensions among the Browns’ leadership. Apparently, the front office had differing opinions on which quarterback to target. It became clear that the push for Sanders came from the team’s owner, who overruled the coaching staff’s earlier decision. With multiple QBs already on the roster, the Browns’ quarterback room is now one of the most crowded and closely watched in the league.
Whether this bold move turns out to be visionary or misguided remains to be seen. But one thing is certain—Shedeur Sanders’ draft saga is one of the most compelling stories of this season, and all eyes will be on him as he begins his NFL journey.