The wait was agonizing. For two days, fans and critics alike sat glued to their screens, watching name after name get called while one of the most polarizing figures in college football history remained on the board. We all saw the headlines. We saw the "Prime Effect" in Boulder. But when the dust finally settled, the answer to where did shedeur sanders go in the draft wasn't a top-ten spotlight or a glitzy first-round stage.
It was the fifth round. Specifically, pick number 144.
On April 26, 2025, the Cleveland Browns decided they had seen enough of the slide. They traded up with the Seattle Seahawks, moving into the middle of the fifth round to grab the Colorado signal-caller. It was a move that felt both like a bargain and a massive gamble, especially for a franchise that has spent decades wandering the quarterback wilderness. Sanders didn't look angry when the cameras finally found him; he looked like a man with a very specific, very long receipt.
The Stunning Fall and Where Did Shedeur Sanders Go In The Draft
Honestly, if you had asked anyone in November 2024 where Shedeur would land, "fifth round" would have been laughed out of the room. He was coming off a season where he led the FBS in completion percentage (74.2%) and snagged the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The numbers were surgical. Yet, as the 2025 NFL Draft unfolded, the league sent a loud, clear message.
Why the tumble? It wasn't just about the sacks he took at Colorado, though those 52 sacks in 2023 definitely stayed on the minds of scouts. There were whispers about his "fit" in a pro locker room and whether the massive media circus that follows his father, Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders, would be a distraction.
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The Browns didn't seem to care about the noise. General Manager Andrew Berry was blunt about it after the pick. He mentioned that they didn't even expect Shedeur to be there in the fifth. Cleveland had already taken Oregon's Dillon Gabriel in the third round, making the Sanders pick a "best player available" situation rather than a desperate need. It’s kinda wild to think about—a guy with 14,000 career passing yards being treated as a Day 3 lottery ticket.
By the Numbers: The 144th Overall Pick
The specifics of the deal tell you how much Cleveland wanted him at that spot. To get to where did shedeur sanders go in the draft, the Browns gave up picks 166 and 192. They moved up 22 spots just to ensure no one else took a flyer on him.
- Team: Cleveland Browns
- Round: 5
- Pick: 144
- Contract: 4 years, $4.6 million
- Signing Bonus: Roughly $447,380
Compare that to the top picks who signed deals worth $30 million plus. It’s a humble start for a player who lived a high-profile life in Boulder and Jackson State.
Why the League Passed Until Day 3
You've gotta wonder what the other 31 teams were thinking. Many scouts pointed to his "average" arm strength and his tendency to hold the ball too long. In the Pac-12 and Big 12, you can sometimes get away with that if you're accurate. In the NFL? Defensive ends like Myles Garrett—who is now Shedeur’s teammate—will eat you alive if you hitch in the pocket for an extra half-second.
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There was also the "Prank Call" incident. During the draft, a prankster actually got hold of the private number the NFL gave Sanders to communicate with teams. Imagine sitting there, heart racing, thinking a GM is calling to change your life, only for it to be a joke. It was a mess.
But the real reason for the slide likely came down to a perceived lack of "high-end physical upside." At 6'2" and 212 pounds, he doesn't have the Josh Allen cannon or the Lamar Jackson wheels. He’s a processor. He’s a pocket passer who wins with his brain and timing. In a draft filled with "traits-based" prospects, the league chose potential over proven production until the Browns stepped up.
Life in Cleveland: From Backup to Starter
The story didn't end with the draft. Most fifth-rounders spend their first year holding a clipboard and wearing a headset. Shedeur had other plans.
The Browns' QB room was a carousel of uncertainty. With Deshaun Watson sidelined by an Achilles injury and the team struggling, Shedeur got his shot earlier than anyone anticipated. He didn't just sit on the bench; he pushed. By mid-season, the rookie was actually starting games.
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His NFL debut stats weren't perfect—56.6% completion and 10 interceptions in his first seven starts—but he showed that same toughness he had at Colorado. He took hits. He stood in the pocket. He even threw for 364 yards against the Titans in Week 14.
Basically, the Browns got a guy who isn't afraid of the pressure. Whether he’s the "franchise" guy or just a high-end backup is still the big debate in Ohio, but for a fifth-round pick, he's already outperformed his draft slot.
Key Takeaways for Football Fans
If you're following Shedeur's journey, keep these things in mind:
- Don't ignore the pedigree: Being coached by Deion Sanders and living under that microscope prepared him for the Cleveland media pressure.
- Accuracy is his calling card: Even when he struggles, his mechanics remain some of the most polished in the 2025 class.
- The "Chip" is real: Falling to the fifth round changed his narrative from "celebrity QB" to "underdog," and he’s leaning into it.
The question of where did shedeur sanders go in the draft will likely be remembered as one of the great "what ifs" of the 2025 season. Did 31 teams miss a future star? Or did the Browns just find a solid value pick in a chaotic year?
If you want to keep up with his progress, the best move is to watch the Browns' offensive snap counts and injury reports. With the quarterback situation in Cleveland always being a bit of a rollercoaster, Shedeur's role is constantly evolving. You can also track his official NFL stats on sites like Pro Football Reference to see if he can cut down on those rookie-year interceptions. Keep an eye on the preseason depth charts for 2026—that will be the real test of whether he's the future in Cleveland.