Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders explained why he is not bitter about having been passed up on by teams multiple times during the 2025 NFL Draft
06:21 ET, 24 Nov 2025
Shedeur Sanders won his first game as an NFL starter
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Shedeur Sanders won his first game as an NFL starter(Image: Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has explained he is not bitter about having been passed up on by NFL teams during the draft after guiding his team to a win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
In what was Sanders starting NFL debut, the rookie quarterback led Cleveland to a 23-10 win over Las Vegas. The Browns rookie has spent the 2025 season behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel, the former of whom was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year.
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With Gabriel, who had been starting following the Flacco trade, out against Las Vegas due to being in the concussion protocol, Sanders went 11-of-20 for 209 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, just a week on from his brutal showing against the Baltimore Ravens.
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A potential first-round pick heading into draft season back in the Spring, Sanders tanked his own stock with a series of poor interviews with NFL teams, resulting in him dropping all the way to the fifth round, where Cleveland selected him.
While he could be bitter about his draft day slide, Sanders, who was linked to Las Vegas during the offseason, admitted to reporters following the game that he had no cause to be frustrated, adding he was getting his opportunity to play.
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"I was a fifth-round pick, I got skipped by everybody. At least 5 times," joked Sanders at the podium postgame.
"So it comes with the game. It is what it is. I'm just thankful for where I am now. Everybody has their differences, but I still got an opportunity to play, so why can I be mad? Money’s different, but thankfully I got a good family."
Shedeur Sanders spoke with his father, Deion Sanders, following the win over the Las Vegas Raiders
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Shedeur Sanders spoke with his father, Deion Sanders, following the win over the Las Vegas Raiders(Image: AP)
He added: "I'm just thankful to be out here, have that opportunity to be able to go and play. Go out there and play, go out there and start. You don't know how surreal that feeling is knowing that you have that responsibility of the Browns organization on your shoulders."
While Gabriel is expected to be available to play for Cleveland's upcoming matchup against the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday, head coach Kevin Stefanski was noncommittal about the prospects of Sanders starting for the Browns moving forward.
"I'm not gonna get into that," said Stefanski following the Browns win, which moved Cleveland to 3-8 on the year. "Proud of him [Sanders], proud of this offense. I'm just worried about today."
Sanders led the Browns to a win in his starting debut
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Sanders led the Browns to a win in his starting debut(Image: Getty Images)
He added: "There's a lot Shedeur [Sanders] does well.
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"I thought to make that play, off schedule, when we were out manned in protection and get the ball down the field. There's a lot he's doing well and a lot he's working on, which I appreciate about young guys that want to get better."