There is no doubt that the Draft leading into the 2025 season was one of the most controversial in history, mainly because the clear focal point was Shedeur Sanders. He was projected to be a first-round pick; however, in a surprising turn of events, five quarterbacks were selected before him, and his name was not called until the fifth round, when the Cleveland Browns selected him with the 144th overall pick.
As the 2024 NCAA season was coming to an end, there was a clear debate over who would be the first overall pick in the Draft: Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. As the date approached, Ward gained momentum to become the top selection, and that is exactly how it played out, as he was taken by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 1 pick.
A month before the Draft, it was already known that the Titans were leaning toward Cam Ward, who had an outstanding season with the University of Miami. However, the real surprise came when Sanders was not even the second quarterback selected, as that honor went to Jaxson Dart, taken 25th overall by the New York Giants, a move that proved to be a smart one.
Shedeur Sanders will reach the Pro Bowl before Cam Ward, sparking debate
With Drake Maye unavailable for the Pro Bowl after reaching the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, the AFC needed another quarterback. To everyone’s surprise, the call went to Shedeur Sanders. He started only seven games for the Cleveland Browns, throwing seven touchdown passes and ten interceptions; even so, he will be part of an event that has lost much of its prestige.
Criticism quickly followed, especially since players like Trevor Lawrence were available-someone even considered an MVP favorite-as well as Cam Ward, who posted better numbers than Sanders and was a starter from Week 1. By comparison, Ward recorded 3,169 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, along with an 80.2 passer rating, outperforming Sanders across the board.
To add to the debate, in their head-to-head matchup, Cam Ward led the Titans to a win over Shedeur Sanders and the Browns. Although Sanders had a strong performance, it wasn’t enough to secure the victory. Still, this decision may go beyond on-field performance, as the Pro Bowl is an event in need of renewed fan interest, and Shedeur Sanders could be the draw it needs.
Now all that remains is to see what happens in their second season. Cam Ward will have his third head coach in his young career, Robert Saleh, while Shedeur Sanders will work with his second. However, it is still unclear who will be leading the Browns in 2026, as the list of candidates continues to shrink.
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