It was a dark day for Shedeur Sanders, one of the most talented quarterbacks in this year’s 2023 NFL Draft class and the son of NFL great Deion Sanders. He dropped from being a projected first-round pick to being drafted in the fifth round. At the end of the day, the Cleveland Browns decided to take him, making him their fifth quarterback on the roster.
With the Browns, Sanders will don the jersey number 12. He certainly makes the quarterback competition very interesting as he’ll join Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson in that crowded QB room. This choice represents a crucial juncture in Sanders’ professional career as he is out to show his value in the league.
The events leading up to Sanders’ fall in the draft have raised the eyebrows of sports pundits, including famed commentator Stephen A. Smith. He pointed out that Deion Sanders may share some responsibility for Shedeur’s unexpected fall, suggesting that his father’s prominent football legacy might have influenced expectations.
“His hands are not clean in this,” – Stephen A. Smith
Tom Brady, a Shedeur Sanders mentor who, perhaps not coincidentally, said about all this during an appearance on the “IMPAULSIVE” podcast. He expressed support for Sanders, urging him to use the disappointment of the draft slide as motivation for future performance.
“I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well,” – Tom Brady
So Brady shared some encouragement. He continued by calling the process to look ahead and not focus on the draft results.
“Dude, like whatever happens, wherever you go, that’s your first day. Day 2 matters more than the draft,” – Tom Brady
He returned to this idea of alignment again, stating that true success in the NFL starts with what actually happens after players get drafted to teams.
“Wherever you end up going … it’s about your performance. What do you do when you get there? Because you’re going to get there,” – Tom Brady
There was a lot of talk that the Las Vegas Raiders were going to take him due to Brady’s apparent relationship with the franchise. Instead, Sanders discovered his new home with the Browns. As he starts this new chapter in his professional journey, he faces both challenges and opportunities in proving himself among established quarterbacks.
Leave a Reply