Mon May 12 11:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Browns’ Fifth-Round Pick Shedeur Sanders Aims for Starting QB Role Despite Long Odds

**BEREA, Ohio** – Shedeur Sanders, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, is embarking on his NFL journey with the Cleveland Browns after a surprising slide to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft. While his draft position presents a significant challenge, Sanders’ unique situation in Cleveland, coupled with his talent, could pave the way for an unlikely rise.

The Browns traded up to select Sanders, a move General Manager Andrew Berry justified by highlighting Sanders’ potential to outperform his draft slot. Berry emphasized Sanders’ accuracy, ball protection, and “classic style of play,” while acknowledging the need for improvement in avoiding sacks. Sanders himself acknowledged a tendency towards “hero ball” in college, a habit he’s working to correct.

Sanders’ late-round selection is noteworthy because quarterbacks drafted this late rarely become starting quarterbacks, let alone Week 1 starters. Only four quarterbacks drafted in the fifth round or later since 1967 have started a season opener as rookies. The odds are further stacked against Sanders given the Browns’ quarterback room includes veteran Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, drafted two rounds earlier. Furthermore, the 2024 starter, Deshaun Watson, is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025 season due to injury.

Despite these obstacles, Sanders’ path to a starting role isn’t entirely implausible. The Browns’ quarterback room lacks a clear front-runner, giving Sanders a legitimate opportunity to compete. His exceptional accuracy (74% completion percentage in college) and strong decision-making are assets he hopes to leverage.

While Sanders faces an uphill battle, his determination is undeniable. “I’m a Sanders,” he stated after the draft, acknowledging the inherent expectations regardless of draft position. His journey to potentially becoming the next Dak Prescott – a fourth-round pick who became a Day 1 starter – will begin at the Browns’ rookie minicamp this Friday. The coming months will determine if he can defy the odds and etch his own place in NFL history.

Read More