Shedeur Sanders: A Draft Story of Disappointment and Determination
It was supposed to be a weekend of celebration for Shedeur Sanders, but instead, it turned into a public spectacle of disappointment and disrespect. The NFL draft, an event that many young athletes dream of, became a waiting game for Sanders, filled with unexpected delays and a mean-spirited prank that spread across the internet like wildfire.
For Sanders, the draft was not just a few picks off from what the mock drafts had predicted; it was a few days. The anticipation of a Thursday night celebration turned into a Saturday selection, as he was picked 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns. Despite the setback, Sanders remains optimistic. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “I don’t ever focus on the negative or even think about the negative … I’ve just got to prove and show what I’m capable of.”
Sanders’ journey to the NFL was not without its challenges. Reports suggested that his interviews with teams did not go as well as hoped, with some saying he said too many of the wrong things. However, Sanders is now focused on saying all the right things, understanding that how he got to the NFL doesn’t matter as long as he doesn’t let it affect him.
In the end, Sanders has the same opportunity to become the Browns’ quarterback of the future as he would have if he had been picked second overall. The NFL is known for its unpredictability, where top picks can flame out quickly, and late-rounders can become stars.
Sanders will be competing with Kenny Pickett, who arrives after a season as a backup in Philadelphia, and 40-year-old veteran Joe Flacco. Sanders’ father and college coach, Deion, humorously noted, “Flacco’s my age,” in a released video. Fellow draftee Dillon Gabriel, who had a standout college career at Oregon, was drafted 94th overall by the Browns, suggesting they might see him as the better prospect.
General manager Andrew Berry explained, “We felt like it got to a point where [Sanders] was probably mispriced relative to the draft.” The draft gurus had projected Sanders as high as No. 3, but teams felt differently. The disconnect could be attributed to several factors: Sanders was good but not great at Colorado, took too many sacks, and wasn’t an elite athlete like his Hall of Fame father. Additionally, there were concerns about his commitment and the fact he had only played for his dad, who made plenty of bold public statements.
Sanders’ draft process was unconventional, as he bypassed the Senior Bowl, which isn’t how the NFL prefers things. Agree or not, this is how the business works. Sanders became a multiday cultural touchpoint and eventual punch line, especially after Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, pranked him by pretending to be from the New Orleans Saints. Ulbrich later apologized, and Sanders took it in stride, saying, “It didn’t really have an impact on me … everybody does childish things here or there.”
Despite the rough start, Sanders remains focused on his future. “I’m blessed,” he said. “I know I have to clean up some things in my game. The main thing is proving [Coach Kevin] Stefanski and Mr. Berry [are] right about picking me.” The draft is just a show, but the league is about work. Sanders has the opportunity to prove himself and write his own story in the NFL.
As Sanders embarks on this new chapter, he holds the pen to his own story. The draft may have been a rough chapter, but the book is far from finished.
Originally Written by: Dan Wetzel
