Shedeur Sanders suffered one of the most shocking draft-day slides in recent memory. After entering the pre-draft process viewed as a surefire first-rounder — and a potential top-five overall pick — the son of Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders slid to Day 3, where he was selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns.
While it is rare for fifth-round quarterbacks to have the opportunity to win the starting job as rookies, Sanders is in an ongoing battle with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel to open the season as the Browns’ starter. All reports suggest the former Colorado Buffaloes star has thrived in the early stages of that battle; however, the real test will come during training camp and the preseason.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers recently acquired Lonzo Ball from the Chicago Bulls via trade. The second overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft likely can relate to the media circus surrounding Sanders, as he faced something similar during college and in the early stages of his professional career. Ball recently revealed that he plans to support the Browns quarterback.
Cavs PG Lonzo Ball Shares His Plan To Support Browns QB Shedeur Sanders
There aren’t many athletes who can understand the media circus that has followed Sanders seemingly since he began his collegiate career. Ball, however, is one of them, as he and his brothers, LaMelo and LiAngelo, garnered plenty of attention — largely due to their dad, LaVar Ball — from the onset of their high school careers.
The newest Cavalier recently shared that he plans to support the Browns rookie.
He stated:
“I got to go see Shedeur, man. I got to go see Shedeur. Myles Garrett, too? Oh yeah, I’m there. I’m there.”
“Competing for a ring, that’s the goal,” – Lonzo Ball talks getting traded to the Cavs 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/nnPngjHVWE
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 5, 2025
It is unclear if Sanders will have the opportunity to start the season, as that will likely be determined during the preseason when the Browns’ four quarterbacks face live defenses. In his final season with the Buffaloes, he was named an All-American and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year while winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
He threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while completing an NCAA-best 74.0% of his passes and rushing for four touchdowns. Early reports from minicamp suggest that Sanders has thrived both on the field and in the locker room.