Cleveland Browns’ GM Andrew Berry FaceTimed Shedeur Sanders just before selecting him 144th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, marking a surprising fall for the talented quarterback. Initially projected as a top pick, Sanders’ stock dropped significantly, leading him to be the sixth quarterback chosen. Despite his struggles during interviews with some teams, the Browns valued his talent and potential, opting to select him in the fifth round after trading up. Joining a revamped quarterback room, Sanders aims to compete for the starting position and prove doubters wrong, driven by gratitude for the opportunity despite the challenges faced during the draft process.
BEREA, Ohio — Just moments before announcing the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Saturday in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry FaceTimes Shedeur Sanders, bringing a surprising draft slide to an end.
Sanders has swapped his eye-catching outfit for something more relaxed. On Thursday night, during the flashy kickoff for the three-day draft, he donned a black leather jacket paired with a large diamond pendant, both featuring his signature dollar sign logo, while anticipating his name being called in the first round amidst a grand watch party in Canton, Texas. Fast forward two days, five rounds in, and he is now donning a basic black cutoff T-shirt, standing in his backyard surrounded by family and videographers. With a football cradled in his left arm and holding his phone with the other hand, he answers Berry’s call.
“Hey, I know it’s been a long weekend,” Berry says, sitting at a rectangular boardroom table, flanked by coach Kevin Stefanski and other team staffers in the subtly lit draft room. “We’re taking you off the board here. Sound good?”
“Yes sir, let’s do it,” Sanders replies, grinning as he strolls around the backyard.
“Get ready to work and prove everyone who passed on you wrong,” Berry adds before handing the phone to Stefanski, who also shares a smile while talking to Sanders.
The Browns traded their 166th and 192nd picks to the Seattle Seahawks to move up in the fifth round for Sanders, a record-setting quarterback from the University of Colorado and the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. This marked the end of a highly scrutinized draft process for a prospect that began in January when Sanders was considered a potential top pick, only to see himself selected as the sixth quarterback in a notably weak draft class.
Even as he found a spot in the NFL, doubts linger about Sanders’ unexpected drop.
The Browns invested significant time with Sanders prior to the draft, meeting him at the East-West Shrine Bowl and NFL scouting combine, as well as hosting him for a top-30 visit and dinner before his pro day workout on April 4. Ultimately, they didn’t view him as an elite prospect worthy of their No. 2 pick prior to Day 1. However, as teams continued to overlook Sanders into Day 3, Cleveland opted for a late-round gamble on a player Berry felt had too much potential to ignore at that moment.
Sanders was the Browns’ seventh and final selection in the 2025 draft, becoming their second quarterback after choosing Dillon Gabriel — a standout from Oregon, Oklahoma, and UCF — with the 94th pick.
Arriving in Cleveland, Sanders has a chance to make a name for himself in a revamped quarterback room that lacks a definitive starter. His competitors for playing time include 40-year-old Joe Flacco, 2022 first-round selection Kenny Pickett, Gabriel, and 2024 starter Deshaun Watson, who is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025 season due to an Achilles injury.
Despite being a fifth-round pick, Stefanski stated that Sanders will have the opportunity to compete for QB1 on a team that employed four different passers last season and has utilized a league-high 40 different quarterbacks since their return to Cleveland in 1999.
“We believed he was mispriced relative to the draft,” Berry mentioned on Saturday. “Ultimately, the acquisition cost was low, and we think he can outproduce his draft position.”
AS THE PREDRAFT process unfolded, the chances of the Browns securing University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward, seen as the top quarterback prospect, dwindled.
Berry maintained openness throughout the draft cycle about maximizing the value of the second pick they held. However, during a roundtable with Cleveland-area reporters in late March, he revealed that moving up in the draft didn’t seem realistic.
“To be candid, I wouldn’t see that as likely,” Berry stated.
As the Tennessee Titans focused on Ward in the weeks leading up to the draft, the Browns engaged in trade discussions with the Jacksonville Jaguars regarding a swap from the No. 2 position. Shortly after the draft began and Tennessee officially selected Ward, Cleveland sent its pick to the Jaguars for a package that included the No. 5 pick and a first-rounder for 2026. This deal provided Cleveland with two first-round picks in the 2026 draft, which is projected to have a stronger quarterback class.
With the No. 5 pick, the Browns picked former Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, a player Berry described as “one of the top linemen in this draft on either side of the ball.” Sanders was again connected to the Browns as they held four Day 2 picks and two within the first four of the second round. However, with their final choice of Day 2, they passed on Sanders once more, opting for Gabriel with the 94th pick.
A team source revealed that the Browns believed many other teams had a Day 2 grade for Sanders — another inside source expressed surprise as Sanders fell into Day 3 — but acknowledged that high picks do slide to later rounds every year, even if this particular instance received more media coverage than most.
The surprising moment for draft observers came during the third round when the team selected Gabriel over Sanders. Gabriel, a seasoned college player and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, was expected to be a potential Day 3 option according to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., but Berry and Stefanski expressed their desire for him following several interactions during the draft process.
Gabriel was part of a group of top prospects the team invited for top-30 visits in early March, which included Sanders, though Gabriel’s attendance was not publicized at the time — only Sanders, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, and Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter were mentioned on the team’s website. The Browns’ decision-makers also traveled to Eugene, Oregon, for Gabriel’s private workout and observed him closely during the Senior Bowl, where multiple Cleveland coaches participated. Berry and Stefanski were present at the Senior Bowl as well.
“We felt strongly about Dillon through this entire cycle,” Berry stated on Friday night. “We think he’s an excellent player and felt he was the right choice for us.”
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Browns GM: We believe Shedeur Sanders will outproduce his draft slot
Browns general manager Andrew Berry explains why Cleveland selected Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round.
WHILE THE BROWNS valued Gabriel, this selection only magnified Sanders’ shocking decline — and raised further questions regarding the rationale behind it.
“It’s unfair for me to comment on behalf of the industry,” Berry said last week when questioned about Sanders. “All I can confidently express is that the time we spent with Shedeur and his accomplishments throughout his college career are impressive. He is a remarkable young man and a solid quarterback. Sometimes, fit is critical. And I’d also add, there are still four rounds left in the draft. Ultimately, it’s less about where you get picked, and more about what you accomplish once picked. That’s truly what matters.
“Getting to know him through the spring, he embodies resilience, and I believe he’s going to thrive in a favorable environment.”
That environment in Cleveland seemed less certain following the Gabriel pick.
Sanders’ predraft process, particularly team interviews, garnered significant attention, with reports suggesting that some interactions were challenging. Insights spread among coaching and front office circles that Sanders had a rough time with the New York Giants and possibly other teams during visits and meetings.
He accepted his invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl in late January but opted not to participate, choosing instead to engage only with teams. He also declined to throw at the NFL scouting combine in February, saving his performance for his pro day workout in Boulder, Colorado, on April 4.
“I anticipated a better spring for him,” an AFC area scout remarked to ESPN. “I heard his interviews weren’t strong, and the pro day was just okay. I was surprised — but not shocked — that Sanders fell to the fifth round.”
However, a source from a different team in the quarterback market indicated that the Browns’ engagement with Sanders proceeded more smoothly than others.
“We felt positive about him as an individual,” Berry commented on Saturday. “He puts in the effort. He’s a great kid with aspirations to excel. His teammates at Colorado appreciated him, and I’m confident he’ll arrive here ready to compete at a high level.”
During a conference call with local reporters post-selection, Sanders admitted he could have approached some aspects of the predraft process differently. When asked about his interview dynamics contributing to his Day 3 drop, Sanders replied: “I believe my strong interview and process with the Browns were key to them selecting me. External opinions are irrelevant now; my focus is entirely on enhancing the team.”
According to one member in the Browns’ draft room, there was no heated debate on how to handle Sanders during draft discussions. They had clearly evaluated him and everything associated with drafting him beforehand.
After selecting Sanders, Berry disclosed to reporters that targeting him had been on their agenda in the event he continued to slide into Day 3. A source familiar with the Browns’ strategy revealed that Berry had “worked diligently to trade up for him,” initiating calls late in the fourth round, and labeled the pick as a “no-brainer.”
“We didn’t intend to pick two quarterbacks this weekend,” Berry expressed to reporters on Saturday. “However, we advocate for the best available player, we value positional needs, and we didn’t foresee him being available in the fifth round. We relish the opportunity to infuse competition into every position and felt it was right to add him to our mix.”
Berry addressed inquiries concerning the influence, if any, of ownership on the pick, firmly stating that owner Jimmy Haslam, who previously had a reputation for being closely involved in decisions, didn’t impose the selection.
Haslam, who was positioned behind Stefanski observing the room’s reaction to selecting Sanders for live cameras, often participated in pro days and interactions with top prospects. He was part of a significant contingent that traveled to Colorado’s pro day and dined with Sanders and Hunter prior to their workout. The team characterized ownership’s engagement with potential cornerstone players as standard practice.
“Jimmy allows us to perform our roles,” Berry declared.
WHEN SANDERS RECEIVED the pivotal FaceTime call from Berry, cheers erupted from the gathering around him at home. After several days of uncertainty, a broad smile lit up Sanders’ face as he fitted a Browns cap adorned with an orange brim and “dawg” logo. Deion Sanders later FaceTimed Berry, having established rapport with him during the draft process, as a source indicated. He is also acquainted with Browns quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, who was a teammate and close friend during their time with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994.
By Tuesday, Shedeur Sanders had arrived in Ohio. Clips emerged of him exploring a Browns-themed gym in downtown Cleveland, followed by running drills up a hill. On Wednesday, he unexpectedly showed up at John Marshall High School on the city’s west side, engaging with student-athletes, answering their questions, and posing for photos. During his introductory conference call, he expressed a desire to engage with the local community.
His NFL journey officially begins on May 9, as the Browns host a three-day rookie minicamp at their practice facility in Berea, Ohio. Amid continuous speculation surrounding his drop and eventual landing in Cleveland, he is set to embark on a mission to overcome his draft slide by contributing to a franchise in need of a stable quarterback situation.
“My motivation stems from my purpose in life and understanding the path we need to traverse,” Sanders expressed. “I recognize that I’ve been granted an opportunity when many overlooked me. That’s what I’m genuinely grateful for, and it fuels my drive.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler contributed to this story.