

The Cleveland Browns ended the long wait for Shedeur Sanders to find an NFL home.
Cleveland traded up to select the Colorado quarterback with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round Saturday, making him the sixth quarterback taken in this year’s draft. A quarterback considered to be among the top quarterbacks available in this year’s draft class, Sanders’ slide became the story of Day 3 of the draft as 143 picks came and went before his selection.
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The Browns, who drafted a quarterback — Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel — in the third round on Friday as well, traded pick Nos. 166 and 192 to the Seattle Seahawks to move up to 144 and get Sanders.
After slipping out of the first round, Sanders seemed confident he would be among the next crop of players announced. During a draft party at his father Deion’s home on Thursday night, Sanders told the crowd, “Tomorrow is the day.”
But Rounds 2 and 3 passed Friday, and the former Colorado QB went unclaimed. Five QBs went ahead of him, including two in the first round. The Tennessee Titans used the first pick to take Miami’s Cam Ward, and the New York Giants traded up to snag Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart at No. 25. Louisville’s Tyler Shough was the lone QB selected in Round 2 (No. 40, New Orleans Saints) while Round 3 saw Alabama’s Jalen Milroe (No. 92) and Gabriel (No. 94) landed with the Seattle Seahawks and Browns, respectively.
As he waited on Friday, Sanders was the victim of a prank call in which someone impersonated Saints general manager Mickey Loomis minutes before New Orleans announced its 40th pick.
“It’s been a long wait, man. We’re gonna take you with our next pick right here, man,” the caller said. The prank call was captured on video by Well Off Media, a YouTube channel run by Deion Sanders Jr., Shedeur’s older brother.
“Yes sir, let’s be legendary,” Sanders said.
“But you’re gonna have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that,” the caller said before hanging up.
Sanders downplayed the mock call but expressed confusion because the phone on which he received the call was new.
“Nobody has that number but coaches, strictly for that reason. Why get mad? They want you to have a certain type of reaction to it,” Sanders told his brother on the video. “They want you to feel bad. But I ain’t trippin’.”
The Athletic has live coverage of Rounds 4-7 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Read more of The Athletic’s coverage from the 2025 NFL Draft: Best Players Available | Rounds 2 & 3 Grades | Day 2 Winners & Losers
Sanders’ slide elicited reactions from the football world and beyond. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said Friday he was “surprised” to see Sanders still undrafted.
“There will be this chip on his shoulder and beware, because this guy is going to play in this league,” Payton said. “I think it’s hard for any of us to explain what other people are looking for.”
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Notable QBs selected on the final day include Tom Brady (sixth round pick in 2000) and the “Mr. Irrelevant” of 2022, Brock Purdy.
Sanders’ brother Shilo is also a Day 3 draft hopeful. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler rated Shilo Sanders as his No. 43 safety, with a UDFA grade.
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)
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