1 week Ago By Alex Buck, NFL Analysis Network
Shedeur Sanders had to wait 144 picks to hear his name called in the 2025 NFL draft. He’s a young quarterback now playing football in Cleveland, something Deion Sanders had some pretty strong feelings about just a few years ago. Shedeur Sanders finally heard his name called in the early fifth round of the draft.
He was the second quarterback selected by the Cleveland Browns in this year’s draft, following third-round selection Dillon Gabriel to the Dawg Pound. Deion Sanders comments on young quarterbacks in Cleveland It’s fair to say the 2025 NFL draft did not go as planned for the Sanders family. In 2024, ‘Primetime’ Deion Sanders had said his son would be a top-five pick, and they would be selective about which teams he would opt to play for.
Fast forward to day three of the 2025 draft, and Shedeur Sanders was still on the board in round five, just hoping any team in the league might give him a shot. The Cleveland Browns ultimately stepped up to the plate, drafting Shedeur Sanders with the 144th pick in the NFL draft. He will now enter a quarterback room with Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.
But Deion Sanders once had some harsh words about young quarterbacks going to Cleveland to play football: “I love what the @Browns have done this offseason but if im a young QB ain’t no way im going to Cleveland. I would pull a ELI MANNING If possible. #ThinkAboutthat #Truth I love what the @Browns have done this offseason but if im a young QB ain't no way im going to Cleveland.
I would pull a ELI MANNING If possible. #ThinkAboutthat #Truth While his father might not have agreed with the Cleveland Browns as a landing spot back in 2018, they were a very different franchise in that era. Hue Jackson was fired midway through the 2018 season, in what was the Browns 11th straight losing season.
Kevin Stefanski and his staff have found some success in recent years. The Browns were 11-5 in 2020 and even won a playoff game over the Pittsburgh Steelers. They made it back to the postseason in 2023, again winning 11 games that season.
Shedeur Sanders can earn legitimate playing time in Cleveland The Cleveland Browns now have five quarterbacks on the roster, and while Shedeur Sanders’ path to playing time is a complicated one, he does have a real shot. Deshaun Watson re-tore his achilles, and he’s not expected to play at all in 2025. Joe Flacco signed a one-year veteran contract, currently predicted to be the team’s starter with some familiarity in Cleveland.
Kenny Pickett was traded to the Browns in March. He’s not featured for the franchise yet, and the team doesn’t currently have any ties to him. Then there are the two rookies.
Shedeur Sanders’ first step is beating out fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who has a lot of experience coming into the NFL. There’s going to be a legitimate quarterback battle during rookie minicamp, and the winner of that battle could go on to start some games in 2025. Joe Flacco was instrumental in the development of Lamar Jackson in Baltimore and worked with Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis, too.
We will now see how the Browns’ camp battle plays out in 2025. This article first appeared on NFL Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission..
