It became clear that the story of the NFL Draft was not that Cam Ward became the 40th quarterback taken first overall in history, nor that the Jaguars had to trade their No. 5 pick, the 2026 first-rounder, and some other picks to the Cleveland Browns for the No. 2 pick and other late picks to get Heisman winnerTravis Hunter. The story was that Shedeur Sanders, once projected as a first-round pick or even first overall, fell to the fifth round as the number 144 pick to join the Cleveland Browns.
In Cleveland, Shedeur will compete with an injured Deshaun Watson, veteran Joe Flacco in his 18th season, Kenny Pickett, and another rookie from Oregon and Heisman nominee, Dillon Gabriel, who was taken with the 94th pick. His unexpected slide had fans buzzing and analysts scratching their heads, wondering how a player with so much hype could wait so long to hear his name called.
Trump’s Tweet the Reason Shedeur Landed in Cleveland?
Could Shedeur have been selected sooner? Maybe, but it seems he might have waited even longer if not for President Donald Trump. It appears that a tweet he posted on Friday, during the second and third rounds of the draft, was the key factor in the Browns selecting the son of Deion Sanders. Here’s part of the tweet from that day: “What’s wrong with NFL owners, are they stupid? Deion Sanders was a great college football player and was even better in the NFL.” Trump’s bold words lit up social media, and some speculate it spurred Cleveland to act when Sanders was still available in the fifth round. Timing-wise, it’s a stretch to call it a coincidence, though no one’s suggesting NFL GMs are refreshing X for draft advice.
The White House didn’t shy away from the story, either. When a Fox News reporter asked press secretary Karoline Leavitt if the president’s tweet influenced the Browns’ decision, she responded with a grin: “All I’m saying is the president put out a statement, and a few rounds later he was drafted. So I think the facts speak for themselves on that.” Obviously, President Trump didn’t directly influence Cleveland’s draft room, but Leavitt’s sharp response was just right for the cameras. Here’s the exchange: Fox News Tweet. It’s a classic case of the White House seizing on an entertaining narrative, even if the real credit belongs to the Browns’ front office.
Browns’ Quarterback Puzzle: Sanders Faces a Fight
If the Browns start Pickett, Gabriel, or Sanders in the first game of the season, they will extend their lead as the team that has started the most quarterbacks since 1999-it would be the 41st, more than anyone else in the NFL; the next team is the Bears, far behind with 30. But more impressively, of those 40, only Tim Couch (2001) and Baker Mayfield (2019, 2020) have lasted a full season. The important thing for Shedeur is that he’s on a team now, and all he has to do is dedicate himself to practice and show that he’s capable of leading a team in the NFL; the competition won’t be easy, and he could even be cut before the season starts.
The Browns are unlikely to keep five quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, which makes me think one will be traded or perhaps Deshaun Watson will be released, forcing them to pay out his contract and shift focus to the future. Watson, without wishing anyone harm, seems to be nearing the end of his time in Cleveland – over three seasons, he’s posted a 9-10 record in 19 games, with 19 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, and under 1,200 yards each year, a disappointing tenure.
Sanders has his work cut out for him. Outperforming an experienced veteran like Flacco, a steady hand like Pickett, and a talented rookie like Gabriel is no easy task. Plus, Watson’s uncertain recovery looms large. Cleveland’s history of quarterback turnover doesn’t inspire confidence, but it’s also an opportunity – if Sanders can seize it. The White House may tout Trump’s tweet as the spark, but Shedeur’s NFL fate now rests on his own shoulders.
Read the full article here
