The wait for Colorado quarterback Chedur Sanders is finally over as the Browns chose him on the 144 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado State head coach Deion Sanders, was widely expected to be his first or second pick, but instead fell into the fifth round and was selected behind the other five quarterbacks.
The Browns gave up picks 166 and 192 and traded 22 spots with the Seattle Seahawks for the right to choose Sanders.
Sanders will likely have the opportunity to develop and compete in the quarterback room, including injured Desshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett (acquired through trade), Joe Flaco (signed in April) and Dillon Gabriel (third round pick). It’s far from where Sanders is expected to come this weekend, but he’s still getting an opportunity for the NFL.
Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Grade: A+
“The excruciatingly long wait has ended. At this point, the value was too good for the Browns to pass this throw. Sanders is a pocket quarterback who wins by prediction and elite, elite, good, not accurate. His pocket navigation skills are almost a plus. A careful decision maker. – Chris Trapaso
Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft 2025 Profile: Full Scout Report, ProComp, Deion Sanders’ Son’s Future Outlook
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Sanders may have believed he was the best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft class, but it appears the NFL team felt that wasn’t the case. After not being selected in the first round of Thursday night, Sanders was also completely overlooked in Round 2. All round three were then passed without his name being called.
Jalen Milroe, meanwhile, became the fourth quarterback from the board when the Seattle Seahawks drafted Alabamat with No. 92 overall. After two picks, the Browns chose Gabriel, the Oregon signal attacker, and handed Sanders for the fourth time in the draft.
The Sanders’ dramatic fall comes after CBS Sports NFL Insider’s Jonathan Jones showed at the beginning of the second day that there wasn’t necessarily a strong market for Colorado Signal Colour, despite the quarterback Needy team who owns the pick to start the second round. The Steelers, who passed Sanders in the 21st round in the 21st round, had another opportunity to secure passersby at No. 83, but instead chose Kaleb Johnson running back.
Sanders elicited some criticism of his on-field skill set. Some scouts question whether he has enough high levels of athleticism and can become someone who makes a difference in the NFL stage. However, the massive skepticism about Sanders stems from the character of his traits as the son of former NFL Great Dion Sanders. Shedeur claimed that the NFL team would become “fools” to pass him on in the draft, and during Colorado’s Pro Day he was the first prospect in his position.
Falling in the NFL Draft, Chedure Sanders reflects how Colorado QB Deion Sanders handled the pre-draft process
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Sanders leads the country with completion rate (74.0%) and leads the country with career completion rates of quarterbacks (71.8%). He led the Big 12 with passing yards (4,134), leading by passing touchdowns (37), per attempt (8.7), and passing yards per passing yard (318.0). Despite these numbers in the weaker class of the quarterback draft class, Sanders fell from the first four rounds.
