The biggest storyline of the 2025 NFL Draft was Shedeur Sanders’ dramatic fall, slipping from a projected first-round pick to the fifth round, where he was finally selected by the Cleveland Browns at No. 144 overall.
Cam Ward, the first overall pick of the draft, spoke about Sanders’ fall and shared insight into the close relationship he has built with the quarterback.
Cam Ward Believes Shedeur Sanders Doesn’t Get Enough Credit as a Player
To everyone’s surprise, Sanders wasn’t selected on the first or even the second day of the draft. His fall had been anticipated, based on his turbulent pr e-draft process and multiple reports that several teams were not impressed with his attitude.
Still, most analysts did not expect him to drop this far — it was widely believed that Sanders could come off the board around the 21st pick, owned by the Pittsburgh Steelers. When that didn’t happen, and the New York Giants traded up for a different quarterback at the end of the first round, concern about Sanders’ draft stock only grew.
In a press conference, Ward was asked about Sanders’ fall and shared more details about their relationship. He revealed that the two have built a friendship, having trained together for some time before entering the NFL.
“I’ve created a special relationship with him, especially me first getting to know him five years ago when I started working with him when I was at UNW,” Ward said. “But it is surprising because he’s a good quarterback. He doesn’t get a lot of the credit that he deserves, especially the plays that he made in Colorado.”
Cam Ward was asked about Shedeur Sanders at his oress conference. Take a listen to the question and answer. #sheduersanders #NFLDraft2025 pic.twitter.com/208TFmNqXO
— Mike Patton 🏈🎤🖋 (@MikePatton82) April 26, 2025
Sanders was an efficient quarterback during his time at Colorado, drawing significant attention for the duo he formed with his father, Deion Sanders, who coached him throughout his entire life. In two seasons at Colorado, he threw for 7,364 yards, 64 touchdowns, and just 13 interceptions, quickly being projected as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
However, after a turbulent pre-draft process — which included multiple refusals to participate in workouts and drills at the NFL Combine, underwhelming interviews, and an attitude considered arrogant compared to what was shown on tape — Sanders’ stock plummeted, leading many teams to approach his selection with caution throughout the three days of the draft.
“A lot of quarterbacks in the country aren’t making those plays. So when he gets this opportunity, he’ll make sure he know how to make plays on the field when gets the chance,” Ward added.
Next season, Tennessee is set to face Cleveland on the road, creating a potential matchup between Ward and Sanders at the NFL level. Although the draft didn’t unfold as initially expected, both quarterbacks are now rookies focused on building their professional careers from the ground up.