The Cleveland Browns brought a media circus to town when they traded up in the fifth round to the No. 144 overall pick in order to select Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
After being projected to be a first or second round pick, Sanders falling all the way to the fifth round was one of the most dramatic slides of any prospect in NFL Draft history. Now, he's looking to prove everyone who passed on him wrong and to quiet his critics.
Sanders has joined a five-man quarterback room. In training camp and preseason action, the Browns are going to have a major competition to figure out who their Week 1 starter will be. He's not considered the favorite, but he'll be given a chance to prove that he deserves to play.
Plenty of opinions have been shared about Sanders, both on the field and off of it. Most recently, former star NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe weighed in with his thoughts.
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During an appearance on "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd, Bledsoe spoke out on the matter. He was surprised by the slide that Sanders endured in the draft.
"I thought he was a first-round talent," Bledsoe said. "It's still sort of a mystery why he fell as far as he did."
Bledsoe continued on, opening up more with his thoughts on Sanders' skill-set.
"Shedeur can throw guys open," he said. "He got hit over and over again. And he kept popping up and making plays."
Throughout his college career split between Jackson State and Colorado, Sanders played like a star. He completed 70.1 percent of his passes for 14,347 yards, 134 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. Those numbers seem better than being a fifth round pick, but the NFL disagreed.
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Just like a majority of NFL fans, Bledsoe agrees that Sanders should have been picked earlier. Why he slid so far may never be known for sure. He landed in a great place with a huge opportunity to earn playing time.
As for who Sanders will be competing for playing time with, Cleveland has Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson on the roster. Even though he's not expected to win the Week 1 job, there could be a change throughout the season under center.
Either way, Sanders seems ready to work and has already brought much-needed excitement to the Browns. Bledsoe clearly believes in his talent, which is a good sign for the future.
For more Cleveland Browns and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM.