Shedeur Sanders Drafted by Browns: Deion Sanders Calls Out Joe Flacco After Team Passes on His Son in Round 1

Cleveland Browns Halt Shedeur Sanders’ Fall, Drafting Him in the Fifth Round at No. 144

The Cleveland Browns finally put an end to the dramatic slide of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, selecting him in the fifth round with the No. 144 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Widely regarded as the second-best quarterback in this class, Sanders was initially projected to be a first-round pick, making his unexpected fall the most talked-about storyline of the draft.

The Browns’ decision to draft Sanders is intriguing for several reasons. Not only did Cleveland pass on Sanders multiple times, but they also chose another quarterback, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, in the third round. On top of that, the Browns’ quarterback room is already stacked with Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, Gabriel, and veteran Joe Flacco.

In a humorous twist, Sanders’ father, NFL legend Deion Sanders, threw some shade at Joe Flacco during the draft’s opening night. A camera caught the two discussing the Browns, who traded back from the No. 2 overall pick before selecting Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham at No. 5. Cleveland, after the trade, held two picks in the second round.

I’ll tell you who they got — they got Joe Flacco,” Shedeur Sanders quipped to his father.

Although he’s only 17 years older than Flacco, the 40-year-old quarterback is far from being a “spring chicken.” The Browns have been hard at work revamping their quarterback room this offseason, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Deshaun Watson, who may miss the entire 2025 season after re-injuring his Achilles in January.

According to CBS Sports Research, the Browns are the first team since the 2012 Washington Commanders to draft two quarterbacks in the first five rounds. In 2012, Washington selected Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins, and now Gabriel and Sanders will join the Browns’ roster.