Browns Land Shedeur Sanders in Fifth Round After Stunning Draft Slide

In one of the most surprising twists of this year’s NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round on Saturday, ending an unexpected slide for a prospect once considered a first-round lock.

Sanders, the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, entered the 2025 draft process as one of the most talked-about quarterback prospects. After a standout season at Colorado, where he threw for over 3,200 yards and 27 touchdowns despite playing behind a struggling offensive line, many draft analysts had projected him to go within the top 10 picks. Instead, teams across the league passed on Sanders throughout the first two days and deep into Day 3, creating shockwaves across NFL circles.

For Cleveland, the opportunity was simply too good to pass up. With established starter Deshaun Watson under contract, the Browns had the luxury of patience at the quarterback position — but the talent and potential Sanders brings made the decision a no-brainer.

“We never thought he would still be available,” Browns GM Andrew Berry said. “Shedeur is an extremely talented young man. He’s poised, accurate, and has tremendous leadership qualities. We’re thrilled to add him to our quarterback room.”

Sanders’ fall down the board may have been influenced by concerns over his transition to the pro game, with questions about his durability after a season where he was sacked a staggering 52 times. Some scouts also pointed to areas where they believe he needs further development, such as pocket presence and reading complex NFL defenses. Still, few expected a player with Sanders’ pedigree and production to last until the fifth round.

For Sanders, who attended the draft festivities with his family but had to wait far longer than expected to hear his name called, Saturday was bittersweet.

“I’m just blessed to have this opportunity,” Sanders said in his first comments as a Brown. “It doesn’t matter when you get picked — it matters what you do when you get your shot. Cleveland believed in me, and I’m ready to go to work.”

Sanders joins a Browns team that continues to build for the future while remaining firmly in win-now mode. He’ll likely have time to develop behind Watson, offering Cleveland a potential long-term option at the most important position in football.

Despite the disappointment of not being a first-rounder, Sanders now enters the NFL with a major chip on his shoulder — and Cleveland might just have found the steal of the 2025 draft.