The 2025 NFL Draft is now well underway, with many college football players achieving their dream of reaching that next level. For the Cleveland Browns, they found their new haul at the quarterback position, picking up Dillon Gabriel and then Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round.
Sanders slipping down to the fifth round was quite the sight to see. Nonetheless, Sanders has found his next home in Cleveland and has the opportunity to prove to everyone who passed on him that they made a mistake. To Browns General Manager Andrew Berry, Deion’s presence was not a significant factor in Shedeur’s selection.
Browns General Manager Andrew Berry Speaks About Shedeur Sanders Selection
Throughout the pre-draft process, one of the big questions that surrounded Shedeur Sanders was whether his father, Deion Sanders, would have a presence wherever he ended up.
That discussion got even louder as Shedeur fell down the 2025 NFL Draft board, and the Browns GM, Andrew Berry, addressed this.
The Browns finally selected Sanders with the No. 144 overall pick in the fifth round, trading up with the Philadelphia Eagles to do so. It was a massive drop throughout the weekend, considering he came in as ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s top quarterback prospect on the board.
The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 overall pick in the fifth round, trading up with the Philadelphia Eagles to do so. It was quite a drop throughout the weekend, considering he came in as ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s top quarterback prospect on the board.
Ultimately, Sanders became the fifth quarterback taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. As for whether Deion’s presence played a role in the slide, Berry noted that the Browns’ relationship with Coach Prime was a positive one, and they had very positive experiences with him.
“I felt like our personal relationship and interactions with Deion, that’s really been all positive from our perspective,” Berry told reporters.
“And I mean that organizationally, not just me and Kevin. But really, all of us who have interacted with Deion and the people out in Colorado. We don’t typically penalize prospects for their parents, so to speak. So I can’t say if that was a factor or not for other teams. But that was not a significant factor for us.”
Sanders is set to sign a four-year contract with the Browns. The total value of the deal is rough $4.6 million, a $40 million decrease from a top-2 pick in the draft, with an annual salary of $1.15 million.
Sanders put together a great senior season at Colorado in 2024. He led the nation with a 74% completion percentage. He also totaled 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns, leading the Buffaloes to a bowl game as a part of an impressive turnaround under his father.
However, Shedeur continued to fall down the board. ESPN’s Pete Thamel said there could have been a few factors in play, regarding the drop. He noted the amount of quarterback talent in next year’s draft class which includes the likes of Drew Allar, Cade Klubnik, and Garrett Nussmeier. Arch Manning will also be draft-eligible should he choose to enter.
KEEP READING: Browns Haters Waste No Time Tearing Into Shedeur Sanders After Wild Draft Reaction Video Goes Viral
One thing we know for sure is Shedeur has officially found his new home. Now it’s up to him to show the world why they made a mistake passing on him and make all the other teams who passed on him pay.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
