Who drafted Shedeur Sanders? Colorado quarterback goes to Cleveland in 5th round after falling in NFL draft

The NFL Draft didn't go entirely as expected for Shedeur Sanders — but he's officially found a new home, with the Cleveland Browns.

The former Colorado quarterback, praised by scouts for his poise and accuracy, but criticized for his lack of a big arm or athleticism, wasn't a Day 1 pick. For a player that was once considered a surefire top-5 pick, it was a surprising turn of events.

Quarterbacks Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart both came off the board as first-round selections, leaving Sanders for Day 2. Even Tyler Shough, another passer, was taken over him in the second round. But after his draft fall, Sanders is now set to head to Cleveland.

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Here's more on Sanders becoming a fifth-round pick and how he'll fit with the Browns.

Who drafted Shedeur Sanders?

Cleveland took a swing on Sanders with the 144th overall pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.

Sanders joins head coach Cleveland's unit as one of the most polarizing players in the draft, owning one of the most unpredictable ceilings of any quarterback in recent memory. On one hand, some insiders and scouts have valued Sanders' unwillingness to step down from any moment, some highlight-reel plays over his time at Colorado, and the poise he's shown as the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders.

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Those pros with Sanders gave Cleveland enough of a reason to use a fourth-rounder on him. In the best-case scenario for the Browns, Sanders can silence his doubters by proving himself as a legitimate long-term option at quarterback.

There are some potential drawbacks with Sanders though, which is why he became a fourth-round pick. Plenty of scouts have had questions about his arm, how often he took sacks at Colorado and whether his personality is a bit too overconfident.

Either way, Sanders now joins Cleveland's quarterback room with something to prove after his draft slide.

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Why was Shedeur Sanders a fourth-round pick?

The buzz around Sanders in the weeks leading up to the draft was that he may fall further than many initially expected. That came true, as plenty of quarterback-needy squads passed on the opportunity to select him in the first round.

For example, NFL insider Albert Breer reported before the draft that he was "having a really hard time" finding coaches or scouts that thought Sanders deserved to go in the first round based on talent alone. Breer listed the common criticisms of Sanders to be that "he isn’t a great athlete on tape, doesn’t have exceptional arm talent, and too often does things that simply won’t translate to the NFL game."

That was just one of countless indications from insiders that Sanders wasn't the top-5 pick he was believed to be early in the draft process. Teams like the Browns, Giants, Saints and Steelers, once considered prime destinations for Sanders in the first round, used their capital elsewhere. Ward, Dart and Shough were all quarterbacks selected over Sanders.

Ultimately, Cleveland felt like a fifth-round tag for Sanders was worth the risk, taking a chance on his upside.

MORE: How Shedeur Sanders' draft slide cost him millions of dollars

Browns QB depth chart

Here's a look at where Sanders will fit in among Cleveland's quarterbacks:

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Will Shedeur Sanders start for Cleveland?

If he was a first-round pick, chances are, Sanders could have contended for a starting job by Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Being a fifth-round pick makes that possibility less likely.

But there is a window of opportunity for Sanders in Cleveland. The Browns' $230 million contract with Deshaun Watson has been a disasters, as he has played in just 19 games over three seasons. After re-injuring his achilles in the offseason, it's unknown whether or not he will be ready to play Week 1. Yes, Joe Flacco led the Browns to the playoffs two seasons ago, but he is 40 years old and signed a one-year deal with Cleveland. 

Given the precarious situation Cleveland has at quarterback, if Sanders plays well, he can overtake Flacco or Watson for the starting job. Whether or not that happens in 2025 remains to be seen. But this is a great opportunity for Sanders to work his way up the depth chart in Cleveland. 

One thing's for sure—after such a long wait, he'll be hungry to show he's worthy of getting picked.  

Shedeur Sanders stats

Here's a look at Sanders' college stats between Colorado and Jackson State:

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