Shedeur Sanders Breaks Silence After Wild NFL Draft Slide and Prank Call, Embraces New Start with the Browns

Shedeur Sanders finally has an NFL home, and what a journey it was. After an agonizing wait that stretched nearly three days, Sanders’ unexpected tumble down the draft board ended when the Cleveland Browns snagged him with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round on Saturday—a slide that’s already being called one of the most dramatic in NFL Draft history.

With cameras glued to the Sanders family since Thursday night, the quarterback—once thought to be a No. 1 overall contender—watched as pick after pick passed him by. The NFL world has seen jaw-dropping slides before (Aaron Rodgers falling to 25th, Lamar Jackson taken at 32), but Sanders’ wait felt like an eternity, especially considering the hype swirling around him.

Speaking to reporters after finally hearing his name, Sanders was all composure. "Nothing really affected me the last couple of days," he said. "I'm favored, I'm blessed. The love for the game stays the same. Of course, I know I have to clean up some things in my game, but that's what offseason is for." He’s determined to prove Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry made the right call, saying, "I'm a good decision. I'm a good draft pick for them, to be able to come in there and do what I need to do."

But as if the draft slide wasn’t enough drama, Friday night brought a prank call from a fake NFL GM while Sanders was live on Twitch. Sanders shrugged it off as childish, but Browns coach Stefanski called it "sad" and "silly," reminding everyone that some people never outgrow middle school antics.

Now, Sanders is laser-focused on fitting in with the Browns and showing the world the "real" Shedeur. "I feel like it's first getting in, showing respect to the vets, showing them I'm here ready to work," he said. "The opportunity for people to actually see the real me—that's what I'm truly thankful to have."

Faith was a recurring theme for the Sanders family throughout this rollercoaster. Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father and college coach, posted a message of gratitude and resilience, quoting scripture and reminding followers that this is just the beginning. Deion Jr. joined in with a flurry of Bible verses, turning X into a virtual Sunday school.

Browns GM Berry described Shedeur as quieter and more introverted than his famously outspoken father, but praised his work ethic and likability. Reports suggested Sanders may have struggled in some interviews with other teams, but Berry insisted the Browns’ experience was positive—and that Sanders will get a fair shot at competing for the starting QB spot in 2025.

As Berry put it, draft position won’t matter once Sanders walks in the door: "You're a part of this culture, you're a part of this family, and we're just going to keep our heads down and go to work." Welcome to Cleveland, Shedeur—where the drama might finally take a knee.