Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was easily the biggest story of the 2025 NFL Draft. Following an entire offseason in which analysts projected him as an early first-round pick, the quarterback fell all the way to the fifth round before landing with the Cleveland Browns. Following the draft, reports revealed Sanders had terrible pre-draft interviews, blaming other teammates for his shortcomings, and ultimately leaving teams doubting his ability to handle life in the NFL.
Only time will tell if these assessments are correct, but defensive tackle Khalen Saunders believes the NFL messed up by allowing Shedeur Sanders to fall so far in the draft. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the two-time Super Bowl champion compared Sanders’ perceived cockiness and arrogance to 2024 first-overall pick Caleb Williams.
I just got one thing to say on this Shaduer situation.. did we not just watch the most “cocky” and “overly confident” QB in The one and only Caleb Williams get drafted 1 overall? It wasn’t a problem with his confidence and swag so what’s the problem with shadeur? Genuinely asking
— Bink Saunders (@khalenNOTkaylen) April 28, 2025
Saints Khalen Saunders Defends Shedeur Sanders After Draft Fall
Khalen Saunders originally joined the league as a third-round pick with the Kansas City Chiefs but spent the past two seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Joining the club at the same time as Derek Carr, the defensive tackle has not tweeted about the team’s second-round pick, quarterback Tyler Shough. Selected well ahead of Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Louisville product was one of the most head-scratching decisions of the entire event. The rookie will be 26 by Week 1, suffered multiple season-ending injuries in college, and wasn’t projected to be selected ahead of Sanders in the draft.
While the rookie has some interesting tape, it’s safe to wonder if Saunders would’ve preferred having Sanders as a teammate. Only time will tell if New Orleans made the correct decision, and Shough will likely have an opportunity to prove his doubters wrong. Quarterback Derek Carr is battling a shoulder injury and, as of this posting, nobody knows if he’ll be healthy enough to suit up in 2025. Even if he does play, Shough could start sooner rather than later, as Carr is not part of the long-term plans with the Saints.
Can Sanders Win A Starting Job
Most Day 3 quarterbacks don’t stand a realistic shot at starting games as a rookie, but the Colorado product could be the exception to the rule. The Cleveland Browns have arguably the game’s least inspiring depth chart, and Shedeur Sanders could be the Week 1 starter despite his slide in the NFL Draft.
With Deshaun Watson sidelined for the season, Shedeur Sanders will battle Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, and fellow rookie draft pick Dillon Gabriel for the starting job. Pickett, a former first-round pick, only lasted two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before the team traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles. Flacco, meanwhile, played some great football for Cleveland in 2023, but that was his only stretch of high-level play in the past decade. Now entering his age-40 season, the one-time Super Bowl MVP doesn’t have much left in his tank.
Dillon Gabriel, meanwhile, was an even bigger surprise than Tyler Shough. While Shough had his believers in the pre-draft process, nobody thought Gabriel would be a third-round pick. The Oregon product was 178th on the consensus big board, and it’s easy to see why. Perhaps the Browns would prefer to start a veteran in Week 1, but Sanders may not have a future in this league if he can’t beat out Gabriel.
Main Photo: Tork Mason – Imagn Images
