CLEVELAND — Shedeur Sanders — the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders who was recently chosen 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns in April’s NFL Draft — was cited by local authorities for driving over 100 MPH on Tuesday, according to police records.
A police officer in Strongsville — a town about 30 minutes outside of Cleveland — pulled over a vehicle clocked at more than 40 MPH over the speed limit, only to discover it was being driven by one of the most polarizing young talents in recent NFL history.
While Sanders built an impressive collegiate résumé — highlighted by Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors and a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award — he slipped to the fifth round of the draft, with many NFL general managers reportedly citing personality concerns as a factor in their hesitation to select him earlier.
The Browns have not issued an official statement regarding the incident, and while no major consequences resulted from the stop, Sanders reportedly challenged the accuracy of the recorded speed.
“I’m like, you were 100 percent going that fast, it’s all on camera, man,” one officer said during the exchange.
Despite his objection, Sanders now faces a choice: pay a $250 fine for the fourth-degree misdemeanor or contest the ticket in Strongsville Mayor’s Court on July 3.
Sanders could very well emerge as the Browns’ Week 1 starter, thanks to his undeniable natural talent, but he’ll face competition from veteran Joe Flacco, fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson — the latter of whom has garnered his own controversial reputation for very different reasons.
Cleveland will begin its 2025-2026 campaign when it hosts Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.