The 2025 NFL Draft featured a remarkable storyline with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders‘ unexpected slide down the draft boards.
Despite widespread projections as a top-10 selection, Sanders wasn’t taken until the fifth round when the Cleveland Browns selected him at No. 144 overall. This dramatic fall surprised many analysts who had considered Sanders the consensus second-best quarterback in the draft class behind Miami’s Cam Ward.
The Las Vegas Raiders, who held the sixth overall pick, were widely speculated as a potential landing spot for Sanders but ultimately selected Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty instead.
Industry insiders suggest the Raiders’ decision may have stemmed from wanting to avoid a quarterback controversy similar to what the Atlanta Falcons experienced in 2024 with Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. With Pete Carroll at the helm and veteran Geno Smith recently acquired, Las Vegas appears focused on immediate success rather than developing a rookie quarterback for the 2025 season.
Shedeur Sanders Joins Crowded QB Room In Cleveland
The Cleveland Browns have added Shedeur Sanders to an already packed quarterback roster for the 2025 season. Sanders enters a competitive situation with multiple signal-callers vying for positions on the depth chart.
The Browns quarterback room now includes:
- Deshaun Watson (potentially sidelined for 2025 with Achilles recovery)
- Joe Flacco (2023 Comeback Player of the Year)
- Kenny Pickett (former first-round pick acquired via trade)
- Dillon Gabriel (fellow 2025 rookie)
- Shedeur Sanders (2025 draft selection)
This creates a challenging environment for Sanders, who will need to compete intensely for playing time with established veterans and fellow newcomers.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
