NFL Scout 'Surprised But Not Shocked' Shedeur Sanders Fell to 5th Round in NFL Draft

One NFL scout told ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi he was "surprised but not shocked" to see Shedeur Sanders fall into the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft after an underwhelming predraft process.

"I did expect him to have a better spring," the AFC area scout told Oyefusi. "I heard he had some rough interviews, and the pro day was average."

Those "rough interviews" reportedly did not take place with the Browns.

According to Oyefusi, "one source from another team that was in the quarterback market had heard the Browns' process with Sanders went smoother than it did for others."

Sanders, who was ranked as the No. 23 overall prospect and No. 2 quarterback available in the draft on the final B/R 2025 NFL Draft Big Board, was still on the board by Day 3.

The Browns ultimately moved up 22 spots to stop his slide by selecting him with the No. 144 pick.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Philadelphia Eagles had interest in selecting Sanders at No. 145 before the Browns traded up.

Multiple NFL insiders have indicated other teams had negative impressions of Sanders' predraft interviews, with The Athletic's Dianna Russini reporting Tuesday that she believed the former Colorado quarterback approached the talks "as a recruiting trip versus a job interview."

Sanders' fall down draft boards might not stop him from getting a shot at an NFL start this season. He is headed into an unsettled quarterback room in Cleveland, where Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow 2025 draft pick Dillon Gabriel will be competing to replace an injured Deshaun Watson next season.