Shedeur Sanders, the 2025 fifth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns, has ignited NFL chatter after likening his draft journey to Tom Brady’s. Once projected as a first-round talent, Sanders plummeted to No. 144 overall NFL Draft, landing with the Browns.
His dramatic slide echoed Brady’s famed fall to Pick No. 199 in 2000. The unexpected draft day twist has sparked immediate parallels to the GOAT’s rise from overlooked prospect to seven-time Super Bowl champion, adding intrigue to Sanders’ bold comparison and fueling debate across the league.
Browns Draftee Shedeur Sanders Draws Bold NFL Draft Comparison to Tom Brady
After slipping to the fifth round in the 2025 NFL Draft despite first-round projections, former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is embracing his underdog status—and drawing direct inspiration from Tom Brady.
Selected No. 144 overall by the Cleveland Browns, Sanders acknowledged that his fall on draft day came with unexpected twists, including a prank call. But a conversation with the seven-time Super Bowl champion following the draft shifted his perspective.
Powerful: Browns star QB Shedeur Sanders compares himself to the legendary Tom Brady after falling to the 5th round in the draft:
“My story is gonna be similar.” 👀
Shedeur is ready to make every team that passed on him regret their decision. pic.twitter.com/ZQvcqx0Y29
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 11, 2025
“That my story is going to be similar,” Sanders said of his exchange with Brady. “I was a late-round draft pick, but we’re here now, so none of that stuff matters. That just mattered on the day, and I’m just excited to be here and ready to work.”
Brady, who famously went 199th overall in 2000 before leading the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl victories and later adding a seventh title with Tampa Bay, shared advice with Sanders via text. Speaking on the “Impaulsive” podcast, Brady said,
“Use it as motivation. You’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.”
The former Patriots legend emphasized that draft position doesn’t define a career, citing his own teammates as examples.
“I was around some of the best players who were undrafted free agents,” Brady said. “Rodney Harrison wasn’t a high pick. Julian Edelman wasn’t a high pick. Wes Welker wasn’t a high pick. Danny Amendola. All those guys were phenomenal players.”
Sanders, who will wear No. 12 with the Browns—Brady’s iconic number—has already impressed at rookie minicamp.
As Sanders enters a Browns quarterback competition ahead of Week 1, he appears motivated by the doubters—and by Brady’s path. Whether his story mirrors Brady’s remains to be seen, but the foundation is already in place.
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