Browns commerce up, choose QB Shedeur Sanders in fifth spherical of NFL draft

The Cleveland Browns ended Shedeur Sanders’ shocking slide on Day 3 of the NFL draft Saturday, making him the second quarterback they chose this weekend.

The Browns traded up with the Seattle Seahawks to pick out Sanders with the 144th general choose within the fifth spherical Saturday. Cleveland gave Seattle its 166th and 192nd picks.

After being chosen, Sanders posted to X: “Thanks GOD.”

Shilo and Shedeur dancing after Shedeur obtained drafted by the Cleveland Browns.

(by way of shilosanders/Twitch) pic.twitter.com/qPrVXCoF4c

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2025

“I might say I am extraordinarily grateful for the chance all through every little thing,” Sanders mentioned throughout a convention name with native reporters. “I do not ever give attention to the unfavorable and even take into consideration the unfavorable as a result of the optimistic occurred so quick and it is a change of feelings. For me, it was simply enjoying quarterback. That is what it is about. You may’t be up, too low or something. You bought to have the ability to have a good time. And after we rating a landing, we have a good time for a bit of bit. Now it is again to time to work, it is time to go.”

The Browns have been linked to Sanders after spending intensive time with him all through the draft course of however finally handed on him a number of instances. Cleveland traded again with the Jacksonville Jaguars from its No. 2 slot to No. 5, getting a commerce package deal that included the thirty sixth choose (which the group used on operating again Quinshon Judkins) and a 2026 first-round choose. Cleveland chosen defensive sort out Mason Graham with the fifth general choose.

The Browns handed on Sanders once more on the finish of the third spherical, deciding on quarterback Dillon Gabriel with the 94th choose. When requested why the group opted to not go along with Sanders, common supervisor Andrew Berry on Friday night time famous that there have been 4 rounds remaining and that he remained impressed with Sanders. A group supply mentioned that regardless of the choose of Gabriel, Sanders remained on the group’s board.

Berry advised reporters Saturday that because the group entered Day 3, there have been discussions about probably focusing on Sanders if he continued to fall. Berry mentioned there was an early run on a number of the gamers that the group had focused within the remaining rounds and as Sanders continued to be obtainable, the choice to commerce up for him got here collectively rapidly.

“We speak oftentimes about quarterback being crucial place within the sport,” Berry mentioned. “We clearly spent a variety of time with Shedeur all through the method. He is extremely correct, can play properly from the pocket, very productive faculty profession. And we felt prefer it wasn’t essentially the plan going into the weekend to pick out two quarterbacks, however we do consider in greatest participant obtainable, we do consider in positional worth. We did not essentially anticipate him to be obtainable within the fifth spherical. So, we love including competitors to each place room and including him to compete with guys which are already in there, we felt like that was the suitable factor to do.”

Berry later mentioned: “As soon as it obtained to some extent the place it felt prefer it was a reasonably steep low cost, we simply felt like, particularly relative to the choice ways in which we may use this choice, this made essentially the most sense.”

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned earlier within the week that each participant within the quarterback room will compete to be the starter. This offseason, the Browns acquired Kenny Pickett in a commerce with the Philadelphia Eagles and signed Joe Flacco in free company. Deshaun Watson is predicted to overlook a good portion of the 2025 season after retearing his proper Achilles tendon.

Because the franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999, quarterback stability has escaped the Browns. Forty totally different quarterbacks have began for the group throughout that time-frame, 10 greater than the next-closest group. Sanders joins a reshaped quarterback room with a possibility to compete for a beginning position early on.

Through the draft course of and as Sanders slid into Day 3, reviews and rumors surfaced about how his character and movie star upbringing because the son of Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer and Colorado soccer coach Deion Sanders may have deterred groups. Berry, although, mentioned the group had optimistic interactions with Shedeur and felt comfy with him as a person.

“We felt good with him as an individual,” Berry mentioned. “He works onerous, he is a very good child, he desires to be nice. His teammates beloved him at Colorado, and I do know he’ll are available right here able to work, able to try to put his greatest foot ahead in all areas of competitors.”

When requested if the way in which he dealt with his predraft interviews may have performed a job in his fall, Sanders mentioned, “I feel what occurred was I had an awesome interview and nice course of with the Browns and that is why they have been capable of choose me. So, something outdoors the group is mostly a non-factor to me now out, as a result of that is my focus and that is the place my thoughts is, is doing every little thing I can to make this group higher. So, every little thing outdoors of that, the opinions do not actually matter.”

Through the predraft course of, the Browns met with Sanders on the East-West Shrine Bowl and once more on the NFL scouting mix. Cleveland additionally hosted Sanders on a go to after which a big contingent traveled to Boulder, Colorado, to have dinner with him and Hunter the night time earlier than their professional day exercise.

“The individuals they have been real. It was actual cool,” Sanders mentioned of his go to to the Browns’ facility in March. “So, I left that go to realizing that if that was the place for me, I might really feel actual comfy with what they’ve in place.”

A four-year starter in faculty — Sanders spent his first two seasons at FCS Jackson State, enjoying for his father earlier than transferring to Colorado to observe him — Sanders led the FBS with a 74% completion fee final season, and his 37 passing touchdowns have been second most within the FBS. A second-team All-American choice, Sanders was named the 2024 Massive 12 Offensive Participant of the Yr and gained the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award because the nation’s prime upperclassman quarterback.

Sanders was the sixth quarterback to be taken within the draft, following Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe and Gabriel.

“The primary factor I am simply proving,” Sanders mentioned, “I am simply proving coach Stefanski and Mr. Berry that they are proper, that they are proper about choosing me. That I am a great choice, that I am a great draft choose for them.”