For months, Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback from the Colorado Buffaloes, has been making headlines. It isn’t surprising that the son of one of the most polarizing players in NFL history became one of the most polarizing prospects in history.
What caught people off guard was the historic slide he took in the 2025 NFL Draft. While some analysts pushed back on the idea that he was a first-round talent, hardly anyone expected him to fall to the fifth round.
To make matters worse, not only did Sanders drop substantially, but the team that selected him, the Cleveland Browns, even drafted someone else before him. They took Dillon Gabriel in the third round. That move has people wondering just how Sanders feels about his unexpected tumble.
Shedeur Sanders Shares the Inspirational Advice His Father Gave Him
After the draft, Sanders faced a wave of questions from the media about how he handled the wait. Reporters wanted to know if he was upset, hurt, or angry about not hearing his name called sooner.
They also wanted to know what advice his father gave him. After all, neither Deion nor Shedeur has ever lacked confidence. In a phone call with the Browns after his selection, Shedeur revealed exactly what his father told him.
“He said, ‘God got us,'” Shedeur told the Cleveland media when asked about the advice he received.
The question of how Deion Sanders would react to Shedeur’s draft destination isn’t new. An old tweet from Deion recently resurfaced, in which he joked that he might “pull an Eli Manning” if the Browns drafted Shedeur.
Still, Shedeur told reporters he feels like he was made for this moment. He sees it as just another part of the game and believes he’s built to come out on top.
“I look at what went on, and everything is a football game,” Sanders said. “You may not come out early, hot, that may not happen, but when it’s down to the final two minutes of the game, then you understand the level of seriousness raises the stakes. That’s why I thrive in these high-pressure moments. So I never felt any type of way. I understood this is the route.”
Sanders will be an interesting player to watch. He’s a bit undersized for an NFL quarterback. He also faced criticism for something out of his control — the lack of strong opponents the Buffaloes played — leading some analysts to question whether he’s ready for the level of defenders he’ll face in the NFL.
Still, he’s an accurate passer who stays calm under pressure. His arm strength has been questioned, though, as has his attitude. Some general managers reportedly called him “brash” and “arrogant.”
Now, he steps into one of the strangest quarterback rooms in the NFL. Along with Sanders and Gabriel, the Browns still have Deshaun Watson and have added Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco.
There’s no doubt Sanders has talent. The question is whether it’s enough to overcome his weaknesses, win him a roster spot, and eventually make him a success in the NFL.
