Shedeur Sanders Draws Bold Brady Comparison After NFL Draft Slide.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a fifth-round pick in last month’s NFL Draft, is drawing inspiration from a legendary figure who experienced a similar draft day wait. Speaking at the Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp, Sanders recounted conversations with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and boldly compared his own situation to Brady’s, who famously wasn’t selected until the sixth round of the 2000 draft. Sanders confidently stated that his NFL career will follow a comparable trajectory.
Adding another layer to the parallel, Sanders has chosen to wear the No. 12 jersey upon his arrival in Cleveland, further emulating the future Hall of Famer.
«My story is going to be similar,» Sanders said, via ESPN Cleveland. «I was a late-round draft pick. But we’re here now, so none of that stuff matters; that just mattered on the day. I’m just excited to be here and ready to work.»
Brady famously spent his rookie season buried on the New England Patriots’ depth chart, not securing a starting role until midway through his second year. Sanders could find himself in a similar position this season, as the Browns’ quarterback room features multiple options, including fellow 2025 draft pick Dillon Gabriel.
Numerous reasons have surfaced for Sanders’ unexpected slide to the 144th overall pick. ESPN’s Matt Miller suggested that the NFL «will humble anyone» and specifically pointed to Sanders’ decision to skip individual throwing workouts at the NFL Combine as a misstep that negatively impacted his draft stock.
However, Sanders remains unfazed by the pre-draft evaluations. «My job here isn’t to prove people wrong,» he asserted. «I’m proving myself right. I fully have self-belief. What those people say, that’s just their opinion. I don’t truly care. They don’t really live in my mental space about that type of stuff. It really doesn’t do anything for me.»
Sanders was instrumental in Colorado’s resurgence as a nationally recognized college football program in 2024, leading all Big 12 quarterbacks in completions (353), passing yards (4,143), and touchdowns (37).
Despite his impressive statistical output, reports indicated that Sanders received «unprofessional» and «disinterested» labels during pre-draft meetings with NFL teams. He had entered the offseason widely projected as a potential first-round pick but saw his stock fall in numerous mock drafts.
The draft slide and the subsequent Brady comparisons have also brought attention back to a past podcast conversation between Brady and Sanders’ father, Deion Sanders. In a lighthearted exchange, Brady jokingly advised Shedeur to spend more time in the film room and less time focusing on luxury cars.
Despite the pre-draft scrutiny, Shedeur Sanders remains confident in his abilities and is determined to prove his worth in the NFL, drawing inspiration from the unlikely path of a legendary quarterback who also heard his name called late in the draft.