Cleveland didn’t just draft a quarterback. They inherited a headline: ‘Shedeur Sanders to the Browns 144 overall… What went wrong?’ The Dawg Pound would have to deal with more versions of that headline throughout the next season. But Shedeur, the fifth-round firecracker from Colorado, isn’t waiting for the NFL world to come to him. He’s already on the move — in more ways than one. In simple words, like he has said it repeatedly, he’s just grateful for the opportunity God presented him with.
Now, before we get to the change in the storm. Let’s rewind and take you back to the thick of the storm. “If I was the Giants, I would draft Shedeur Sanders.” That aged well. Alas, Stephen A. wasn’t HIM. And all of Shedeur’s swag for days, two-time program elevator — first at Jackson State, then Colorado, came crashing on draft weekend. Day 1. Day 2… Finally, Day 3, and even then it seems like a pity pick.
Guess somewhere between skipping the combine and swirling reports of “arrogance,” it didn’t sit quite well with the NFL teams. Especially when you see guys like Dillon Gabriel, Jalen Milroe, and Tyler Shough, all of them getting drafted above Shedeur. All of this seemed a bit aimed straight at Deion’s son.
And yet, you wouldn’t know it from watching Shedeur’s reaction. No slouching. No sulking. Just pool-jumping joy and a dance-off with his brother Shilo. The Browns finally called, and the Sanders family turned a draft slide into a celebration. Now fast-forward a few days and the kid’s already in Cleveland — not vacationing, but visiting schools, engaging with the community, and showing those so-called “character concerns” the door.
An X post spelled it out: “Since Shedeur Sanders slid in the draft. He arrived in Cleveland early to put in work. Went out in the community to learn about our city. Gave his time to local kids to help inspire and make a difference. These are the actions of a franchise quarterback.”
Shedeur Sanders has handled his draft slide like a complete professional. pic.twitter.com/5aZtHbQPqf
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) May 1, 2025
Then came the rookie card drop — a clean Panini Instant release that hit social media like a statement. It wasn’t just ink on cardboard. It was Shedeur’s way of reclaiming the spotlight on his terms. Not through his father’s voice. Not through pre-draft whispers. Just Shedeur, ball in hand, Browns gear on, smirking like someone who knows exactly where this is going. A little late? Sure. But never buried.
So what’s next? Well, that’s on Shedeur. This draft chapter — messy as it was — might end up being his best teacher. He’s got Joe Flacco in the room. Kenny Pickett ahead. A city ready to believe in something new… Well, that is, until he does everything by the book.
Because Shedeur Sanders already has negative PR all-around him
College stats can get you headlines, but bad PR? That gets you benched… or worse, dropped to Day 3. Shedeur Sanders had the kind of season at Colorado that should’ve made him a lock as a top-tier prospect. Over 4,100 passing yards, a 74% completion rate, and 37 touchdowns. The guy was efficient. Lethal in rhythm. Named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. On paper, his horns were sounding off.
But you know how the NFL works. It’s not just about what you do… It’s about how you do it, and more importantly, how you’re perceived doing it. So why’d he slide all the way to the fifth round? Well, former NFL lineman Ross Tucker peeled back a layer on the Dan Patrick Show, and what he revealed wasn’t flattering.
According to Tucker, when he called the Colorado–Colorado State game for CBS, Shedeur straight-up ghosted the production meeting. Twice. No heads-up. No explanation. Just… gone. “I walk out of the hotel and there’s a pickup truck in front of the hotel and Shedeur is just sitting in the back of the pickup truck,” Tucker recalled. “NFL people asked me after that game, ‘what did you think of Shedeur?’ And I said, ‘I didn’t get to talk to him.’”
Not exactly a glowing reference. Tucker didn’t accuse him of being a bad guy—he was careful with his words. But that’s the point. NFL teams aren’t just drafting arms and legs. They’re investing in faces of the franchise. “Especially at that position,” Tucker said, “I think it makes them very nervous that already in college he was getting out of things that you’re supposed to be doing.”
Skipping a production meeting once? Not a career-ender. But when you stack it next to shaky combine interviews and whispers about skipping out on other team meetings? That’s how you fall behind QBs like Dillon Gabriel. That’s how you drop to the Browns’ second quarterback pick of the draft. And now, it’s not just about how Shedeur plays—it’s about whether Kevin Stefanski believes he can be counted on when it’s not highlight-reel time.
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