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Tom Brady Shares Advice For Shedeur Sanders After Draft Slide

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 7, 2025 11:59 AM ET

Tom Brady knows better than most that Shedeur Sanders' draft spot doesn't have to define him.

Twenty-five years ago, Brady didn't enter the draft with much buzz before the New England Patriots took him in the sixth round. Conversely, Sanders began the offseason cycle harboring early first-round expectations before tumbling to the fifth.

Brady mentored Sanders throughout the quarterback's college career. On the Impaulsive podcast, the seven-time Super Bowl champion revealed his text message to the rookie during the draft fall.

"I said dude, whatever happens, wherever you go, that's your first day," Brady said. "Day 2 matters more than the draft. I was (pick) 199, so who could speak on it better than me? Like, what that really means. Use it as motivation. You're gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it."

Brady is affiliated with one of the 32 teams to avoid Sanders multiple times. The Las Vegas Raiders bypassed seven opportunities to take the Colorado star before drafting quarterbacks Tommy Mellott and Cam Miller in the sixth round.

Despite reports of his influence within the organization, Brady claimed he had no part in the draft evaluation process. He blasted the media for saying "whatever the **** they want."

However, Raiders general manager John Spytek told The Athletic's Dan Pompei that Brady endorsed the Miller selection.

"He liked the way he threw it, his technique, throwing from the ground up and his motion," Spytek said. "And he thought he had the potential to improve."

While the advice may mean more from Brady, Sanders has seemingly heard the same thing from everyone over the last week. After the pick, Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry said "nothing will be given" to Sanders, who has the chance to compete like any other player.

"It really doesn't matter where you [were] picked," Berry said. "It's what you do from that point forward."

The Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round before taking Sanders at pick No. 144. They also signed Joe Flacco and acquired former first-rounder Kenny Pickett this offseason, so Sanders won't have a paved path to a starting role in 2025.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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