Cam Newton Reveals Unpopular Opinion on Shedeur Sanders After Falling in NFL Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ryan Harris | Last updated Apr 28, 2025 2:08 PM ET

The 2025 NFL Draft has concluded, and may have had the biggest and most surprising storyline we have ever seen during an NFL Draft.

The Shedeur Sanders situation of him being a potential top five pick turned into a fifth round pick, something we have never seen before.

Mel Kiper Jr. notably was outraged and other analysts were stunned by what was happening, and controversies and conspiracies began.

Whether it was about his personality, his family, or anything of that nature, it turned almost everyone off to drafting Sanders, until the Browns selected him with the No. 144 pick.

Auburn legend Cam Newton spoke on the matter, saying that Sanders was 'humbled' after what went down over the weekend.

Shedeur sliding in the draft might just be the blessing he needs…

Sparkplug of the draft? Travis Hunter. He’s ready to turn the Jags franchise around ⚡️ Sponsored by @ro pic.twitter.com/fm6j2jsabw
— 4th&1 with Cam Newton (@4thand1show) April 28, 2025

Newton touches on the fact that for the first time in Sanders' adult life, he will not be coached by his father Deion Sanders, and expects that mentality to follow him into his early NFL years.

Rightfully so, Sanders will be critiqued more than any rookie in the NFL, in a similar fashion to how Bronny James was critiqued heavily due to him being LeBron James' son.

Immediately as his entrance to the NFL is official, he will face challenges heading into the season. He was the second quarterback that the Cleveland Browns selected, after they picked Oregon Ducks' Dillon Gabriel with the No. 94 in the third round.

The Browns' quarterback position battle now contains five quarterbacks in the mix, with Sanders and Gabriel joining Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Deshaun Watson.

Watson most likely will not play due to his injuries, so that leaves the other four. This will be must see TV for the offseason prior to preseason play as to how the quarterback battle is going.

Sanders will be under a microscope heavily for how he handles his first steps of adversity in the NFL, and should he overcome it and become the Browns' starter, will be a big accomplishment for him and certainly something worth watching in the future.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: