Apr 4, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) runs drills at the University of Colorado NFL Showcase at the CU Indoor Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Michael Ciaglo-Imagn Images

Cleveland Browns: Big 12 Coach Admits Shock to Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft Fate

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated May 7, 2025 12:35 AM ET

It’s been a while since the 2025 NFL draft concluded, but Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ controversial slide down to the fifth round remains one of the hot topics in the football realm.

Widely expected to be taken either No. 1 or No. 2 overall, Sanders was instead selected by the Browns as the class’ 114th pick overall. It was as embarrassing for Sanders as it was shocking for most people, including one anonymous college football coach.

Via Adam Rittenberg of ESPN:

“I was shocked,” a Big 12 coach said. “You never know what the interview process, how that went. I thought besides Cam [Ward], he was the second-[best] guy.”

Another coach, a defensive coordinator who went up against Sanders, also said that “I thought he’d fall but not like this.”

Cleveland Browns’ Sanders has a chance to prove his naysayers wrong

Sanders can only use his humbling experience in the NFL draft as fuel for him to prove his critics and everyone who celebrated his slide wrong. It’s not going to be a walk in the park for Sanders in the pros, but with the Browns, he should be given a chance to showcase why he belongs in the league and why teams who passed up on him were wrong to do so.

At the moment, the Browns have Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Sanders in their QB room.

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

More must-reads: