Shedeur Sanders suffered one of the most shocking draft-day slides in recent memory. He entered the pre-draft process as a projected top-five pick, with some outlets predicting him to be the first player off the board. Instead, the son of Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders waited until Day 3 to hear his name called, as the Cleveland Browns selected him in the fifth round.
The former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback played well in the final year of his collegiate career, throwing for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, while completing an NCAA-leading 74.0% of his passes and adding four rushing touchdowns.
There were questions, however, about his ability to translate his game to the NFL level in addition to the off-field questions. While Sanders was humbled by his draft, he was grateful to the Browns for picking him 144th overall and is now embracing a new identity in Cleveland.
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Shedeur Sanders Embracing New Identity With The Browns
At both Jackson State and Colorado, where he played under his dad and head coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur wore the Number 2 as he turned both programs on their head. However, with DeAndre Carter wearing that number for Cleveland, Sanders opted to wear 12 and isn’t a fan of anyone calling him Number 2 now.
“Don’t call me 2 anymore, call me 12. If you call me 2 now, you disrespecting me,” Sanders said during a Twitch stream.
Shedeur Sanders wants to be referred to as 12 instead of 2:
“Don’t call me 2 anymore, call me 12.” pic.twitter.com/JmWYqA3V0d
— GUCCE🦬🐦⬛ (@gucceCU) May 17, 2025
Earlier during his first media session with the Browns, Sanders was asked whether he would buy the Number 2 from Carter, and he came up with a hilarious response. “Nah, I’m not trying to buy anything. My signing bonus ain’t that high right now.”
As everyone broke into laughter, Sanders’ point was extremely valid. Dropping from a potential top-three pick to 144, his standard rookie contract dropped in value by close to $40 million to just 10% of what he could have made.
Nevertheless, fans are wholeheartedly embracing Sanders’ new chapter, and his jersey is the No. 1 selling jersey among all 2025 draft picks. He will enter the league with a major chip on his shoulder after suffering one of the most unprecedented draft-day slides in recent history.
Sanders will likely have the opportunity to compete for the Browns’ starting gig as Deshaun Watson is set to miss the 2025 season after he re-ruptured his torn Achilles. The fifth-round pick figures to compete with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel for the starting role.