Sanders drafted by Browns in Round 5

In the midst of more than 150 picks in four rounds of the NFL draft Saturday, the primary focus was on the when, where, who and why surrounding Shedeur Sanders.

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After more than two days of waiting, the questions were answered when the Cleveland Browns finally stopped Sanders' inexplicable free fall through the draft ranks, trading up to select the Colorado quarterback with the sixth pick in the fifth round and No.144 overall.

Cleveland, who already had taken Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round, sent picks 166 and 192 to Seattle to take Sanders.

Sanders, the son of NFL Hall of Famer and current Colorado coach Deion Sanders, passed for 14,347 yards with 134 touchdowns in his college career, two seasons at Jackson State, then two at Colorado.

He had been projected by some as a possible first-round pick, but draft analysts, fans, and even President Trump were confounded by Sanders' slide.

Even with Deshaun Watson in danger of missing all of the 2025 season after re-rupturing an Achilles tendon, the Browns quarterback room includes recently re-signed 17-year veteran Joe Flacco and 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia, as well as Gabriel and Sanders.