If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably seen the "Legendary" watch flex or heard a million different opinions on Coach Prime. But for all the noise surrounding Boulder, one question keeps popping up in group chats and search bars: has Shedeur Sanders been drafted yet?
The answer is yes. But it didn't happen exactly how the mock drafts predicted back in 2024.
Honestly, the draft journey for Shedeur was one of the most polarizing storylines in recent NFL history. We went from "first overall pick" talk to a massive slide that left fans and analysts stunned. It wasn’t just about the stats—which were actually pretty incredible—it was about the "package" that comes with being a Sanders.
The 2025 Draft: Where Shedeur Sanders Landed
It finally happened in April 2025. After months of speculation that he might go in the first round to a team like the Raiders or the Giants, Shedeur Sanders was drafted by the Cleveland Browns.
But here’s the kicker: he wasn’t a Day 1 pick. He wasn't even a Day 2 pick.
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The Browns actually traded up to get him at No. 144 overall in the fifth round. It was a total shocker. People were expecting him to be the face of a franchise immediately, but instead, he became a "lottery ticket" for a Cleveland team that had already taken another quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, earlier in the same draft.
Why the slide happened
Why did a guy who threw for over 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns in his final year at Colorado fall so far? It's complicated.
- The Sack Rate: NFL scouts were obsessed with how many times he got hit. Even though Colorado’s offensive line was, frankly, a mess, scouts worried about his internal clock and whether he held onto the ball too long.
- The "Enigma" Factor: Shedeur skipped a lot of the traditional pre-draft circuit. He didn't work out at the Combine and skipped the Senior Bowl. In the NFL, if you aren't "one of the guys" during the evaluation process, coaches get nervous.
- Average Measurables: While his accuracy is elite, his arm strength was viewed as "good, not great." In a league obsessed with the next Josh Allen, Shedeur was seen more as a high-floor pocket passer.
Life in the NFL: The Cleveland Era
So, what’s happened since he put on the brown and orange?
By the time the 2025 season rolled around, Shedeur was fighting for every rep. He didn't start Week 1. In fact, he spent a good chunk of the early season sitting behind veterans and competing with Gabriel. But you know Shedeur—he’s not exactly the "sit and wait" type.
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Reports from Browns training camp suggested he was outperforming the other rookies almost immediately. His "adjusted completion percentage" remained one of the best the coaching staff had seen. Basically, when he throws the ball, it goes where it's supposed to.
By mid-season 2025, the Browns started working him into the rotation. He wasn't the full-time starter yet, but he was getting those 1,500-to-2,000-yard projections for his rookie year that had fantasy managers hovering over the "add" button.
The NIL Legacy He Left Behind
Before he was drafted, Shedeur essentially rewrote the rules for how college athletes make money. We're talking about the first college athlete to sign with Beats by Dre. The first to sign with Mercedes-Benz.
He didn't just play football; he ran a business. His SS2LEGENDARY brand was everywhere. Even now, in early 2026, you still see kids wearing his apparel. He proved that you don't need to be in the NFL to be a multi-millionaire, which ironically might be one of the reasons some old-school NFL scouts were wary of him. They wondered if he was "hungry" enough.
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Has Shedeur Sanders Been Drafted? The Final Verdict
If you're looking for him on Sundays, look at the Browns' sideline. He’s there, wearing #2 (or whatever number he eventually negotiated for), and he's slowly proving that the fifth round was way too low for his talent level.
The "drafted" status is checked off. Now, the goal is "starter."
He’s currently navigating the typical rookie-to-sophomore transition. He’s shown he can handle the pressure—he survived the Colorado offensive line, after all—but the NFL is a different beast. Whether he becomes the franchise savior the Browns hope for or stays a high-end backup is the big question for the 2026 season.
Next Steps for Fans and Collectors:
- Watch the Depth Chart: Keep an eye on Cleveland's injury reports and quarterback rotations. Shedeur's path to a starting job is narrow but very real.
- Check the Stats: Look for his "Time to Throw" numbers in NFL games. If he's getting the ball out faster than 2.8 seconds, he's evolving.
- Collect with Caution: His rookie cards saw a massive price dip when he fell to the fifth round. If you believe in the talent, now is arguably the "buy low" window before he potentially takes over the starting job.