Shedeur Sanders 3-word reaction to Browns pick came after his real celebration

There were some analysts who projected the Cleveland Browns to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft. That prediction ultimately came true — although not at the spot that anyone thought it would.

Cleveland traded the No. 2 overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected Sanders’ teammate, two-way star Travis Hunter. The New York Giants elected to pick Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter with the following pick, and Sanders’ slide down the board began.

Once projected to be the top pick in the draft, Sanders watched as he was passed over by teams time and again. His slide continued pick after pick, round after round and day after day. 

Shedeur Sanders reacts to being drafted by Browns on Day 3

The Browns ended Sanders’ wait by trading up to select him with the No. 144 overall pick in the fifth round on Saturday. Despite the difficult week, Sanders appeared to be in good spirits after the announcement.

“Thank you GOD,” Sanders posted on social media shortly after the selection.

Sanders’ reaction to being drafted was captured from a live stream, which showed him dancing with his brother after the selection was announced in Green Bay. Shortly after, he cooled off from the stressful three-day wait by taking a plunge into a pool.

While there is reason to celebrate now, the difficult road ahead has just begun. Sanders was the sixth quarterback selected in a relatively weak class, and he wasn’t even the first quarterback selected by the Browns. Cleveland selected Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the third round before trading picks No. 166 and No. 192 to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for No. 144, which was used to select the Colorado quarterback.

The only quarterback projected to go ahead of Sanders was Miami’s Cam Ward, who was selected with the first pick by the Tennessee Titans. Instead, four more quarterbacks heard their names called before Sanders. The New York Giants traded up for Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart with the No. 25 overall pick, the New Orleans Saints selected Louisville’s Tyler Shough with the No. 40 overall pick, and the Seahawks selected Alabama’s Jalen Milroe with the No. 92 overall pick. The Browns selected Gabriel with the No. 94 overall pick before coming back for Sanders.

Along with Gabriel, Sanders will have to compete in a quarterback room that includes veteran Joe Flacco, fourth-year passer Kenny Pickett and — of course — Deshaun Watson. The Browns are unlikely to carry more than three quarterbacks on their roster, and Watson’s contract may make it difficult to move on. That could leave Flacco, Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders fighting for two available roster spots.