Cleveland Browns Select Shedeur Sanders After Surprising Slide in NFL Draft

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns ended Shedeur Sanders’ surprising slide in the NFL draft by selecting him with the No. 144 overall pick in the fifth round on Saturday. The Browns traded up with the Seattle Seahawks, giving away their picks No. 166 and No. 192 to secure the talented quarterback from Colorado.

Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, was widely anticipated to be a first- or second-round pick but fell significantly during the draft process. He expressed his gratitude on social media after being picked, posting, ‘Thank you GOD.’

Throughout the draft, the Browns showed interest in Sanders, meeting with him multiple times, including at the East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL scouting combine. Despite passing on him earlier, including selecting quarterback Dillon Gabriel at No. 94, the Browns believed there was still potential in Sanders and decided to take a chance.

Cleveland’s General Manager Andrew Berry noted that there was still ample time left in the draft to consider all options. Team insiders said that Sanders remained on their board as a valuable prospect, even after the team’s earlier selections.

Sanders had an impressive college career, leading the nation in completion percentage at 74%. In the Big 12 last season, he threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns, earning the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. Nicknamed ‘Legendary,’ Sanders had hoped for a higher draft position but faced intense scrutiny over his performance and personality, which some scouts viewed skeptically.

With a reshaped quarterback room, Sanders now has the opportunity to compete for a starting role, joining a unit that includes Gabriel, who the Browns drafted earlier, and recently acquired veterans. The Browns have struggled with quarterback stability since the franchise’s return in 1999, starting 40 different quarterbacks in that span.

‘The excruciatingly long wait is over,’ said CBS Sports analyst Chris Trapasso. ‘At this point, the value was simply far too good for the Browns to pass on.’ The Browns will be looking to develop their new addition as he embarks on his professional career.