Apr 25, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; A graphic announcing Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ selection by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th overall pick is seen in the Draft Theater during the third day of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders Drops Confident Claim Amid Offseason Competition

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated May 11, 2025 12:01 AM ET

The talk about the Cleveland Browns’ fifth-round pick, Shedeur Sanders, is not over. In fact, it’s only intensifying as the Browns are starting to get ready for the 2025 NFL season.

The former Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback, who is participating in Cleveland’s ongoing rookie minicamp, has also been included in the team’s offseason quarterback battle along with draft batchmate Dillon Gabriel.

Despite an embarrassing slide to the third day of the draft, Sanders is keeping a healthy attitude about his personal outlook in the NFL, opting to take it step by step and doing all he can under his control to prove his worth – to himself.

“It’s just me versus me,” Sanders said, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. “I can’t control any other decision besides that. So I just try to be my best self at all times. … My job here isn’t to prove people wrong. I’m proving myself right.”

Selected 144th overall in the draft, Sanders finds himself in a QB room that also features veterans Deshaun Watson and Joe Flacco. Another young quarterback in the group is Kenny Pickett, who was traded by the Eagles to the Browns this offseason.

Sanders chooses his Cleveland Browns jersey number

Sanders played in college wearing the No. 2 jersey, but he’s now sporting No. 12 , per Fox Sports:

Sanders, wearing his new No. 12 jersey, took the number because he said it was the best one available; he wore No. 2 at Colorado, which was later retired by the school. It also doesn’t hurt that it was the number Tom Brady wore en route to seven Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In the 2024 college football season, Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns against only 10 interceptions on a 74.0 percent completion rate through 13 games with the Buffaloes.

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski watches quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) participate in drills during day two of NFL rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility May 10, 2025, in Berea, Ohio.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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