Shedeur Sanders, once projected as a top NFL Draft pick, experienced a significant slide, ultimately being selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th pick. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller attributed Sanders' draft fall to poor handling of the draft process, including skipping crucial events like the NFL Scouting Combine and the East-West Shrine Game. Miller also deemed Sanders overrated relative to his peers, suggesting he was not among the top two or three players in the draft class. The Sanders camp reportedly approached the draft process with an overconfident mindset, believing him to be a lock for a high pick, which ultimately backfired. Despite the draft slide, Sanders now has the opportunity to compete for a starting quarterback position with the Browns, amid the absence of Deshaun Watson due to injury.

Shedeur Sanders, expected to be an early pick, fell to the fifth round of the NFL Draft, being chosen by the Cleveland Browns at position 144, which was a surprise to many analysts and fans.

Matt Miller attributed Sanders' draft slide to a mismanagement of the pre-draft process, criticizing his decision to skip participating in the NFL Scouting Combine and the East-West Shrine Game, which are crucial for showcasing talent.

Miller argued that Sanders was overrated compared to other players in the draft, saying his skills and tools did not place him among the top two or three in his class.

The Sanders camp's overconfidence and belief that he was a lock for a high draft pick led to a strategy that ultimately harmed his draft position, as there was a disconnect between their perception and the NFL's evaluation.

With Deshaun Watson out for the 2025 season due to an injury, Sanders has a chance to prove his critics wrong by competing for a starting role with established players like Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco in the Browns' quarterback lineup.

Despite criticism and a challenging draft experience, Sanders now faces the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and potentially secure a prominent role in the NFL with the Browns.

The Browns' decision to draft Sanders provides him with a new beginning to overturn the narrative of his draft experience, leveraging the absence of key players to establish himself in the team's quarterback competition.