Shedeur Sanders: A Year of Surprises
For Shedeur Sanders, 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year—perhaps the biggest of his life. Yet, it’s been quite unpredictable.
As the calendar turned to January 1, there was a good amount of buzz about Sanders possibly being drafted as a 1B to fill Cam Ward’s spot in the NFL Draft. Many thought he wouldn’t slip past the New York Giants at the third pick. Worst-case scenario, the New Orleans Saints, having just moved on from Derek Carr, might pick him at number nine, effectively landing him in the top ten.
However, the first round came and went without hearing his name. Instead, players like Jackson Dart, Tyler Shaw, Jalen Milroe, and Dillon Gabriel were selected throughout rounds two to four. Ultimately, Sanders was picked in the fifth round, landing with the Cleveland Browns at the 144th spot.
A smear campaign seemed to emerge after the draft, and while it’s unclear how much it influenced perceptions, two speeding tickets certainly didn’t help matters. There was even a prank call made by an assistant coach’s son, pretending to be an executive from another team.
One coach described Sanders’ formal interview as “terrible,” while acknowledging he was “qualified.” Other accounts suggested he appeared disinterested during some meetings, particularly with the Giants. Ross Tucker from CBS mentioned that Sanders overlooked his media responsibilities before crucial college games.
If there was someone consistently in Sanders’ corner, it was President Donald Trump. Following the draft’s first round, Trump criticized NFL owners, labeling them “stupid” for not selecting Sanders. After Sanders secured a win in his initial start, Trump remarked, “I told you so.”
As training camp began, Sanders found himself as the third-string quarterback, behind Joe Flacco and Gabriel. This was primarily because Deshaun Watson was recovering from an Achilles injury, and they had just traded Kenny Pickett.
Things changed mid-season when Flacco was traded, elevating Sanders to a backup position. When Gabriel sustained a concussion during his second start, Sanders stepped in. Ironically, this happened right around the time three masked robbers broke into Sanders’ home and swiped about $200,000 worth of belongings.
Sanders triumphed in his first start, prompting the Browns to stick with their fifth-round pick. Since then, it’s been quite a ride, and things don’t seem to be slowing down. Heading into Week 17, Sanders holds a record of 1-4, a completion rate of 55.1%, with 1,103 passing yards, six touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
With the Browns also holding an early pick and a first-round selection from the Jacksonville Jaguars this year, they have a lot of flexibility. Despite the fluctuations, Sanders is still confident he’s “the guy Browns fans have been waiting for.” As we look ahead, perhaps 2026 will bring some clarity to his journey.
