Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson recently made a claim regarding the selection of Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback from Colorado, in the 2025 National Football League Draft.
There had been significant discussion among fans and analysts about where Sanders would be selected, with many expecting him to go as high as the top five picks. However, Sanders fell to the fifth round, which raised questions about whether draft evaluations had missed something or if there were other factors influencing his position.
According to Dickerson, the league may have played a direct role. “The NFL told teams, ‘Do not draft him. We’re gonna make an example out of him. Somebody called the Browns and said, Don’t do that. Don’t draft him,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson added that he had reliable information confirming this account and indicated that the Cleveland Browns ultimately chose Sanders at pick No. 144 despite this alleged warning from the league.
It is unclear what caused teams to avoid drafting Sanders if Dickerson’s claims are accurate. Sanders has joined other players who entered the league with well-known family names and high public profiles but did not appear to have done anything warranting exclusion or being made an example of by the league.
Since arriving in Cleveland, Sanders has fulfilled his responsibilities and accepted his current role as backup quarterback. As attention shifts toward future seasons, observers expect he may have a chance at earning a starting position before the 2026 National Football League Draft.
Cleveland will need to evaluate Sanders ahead of future drafts to determine whether he could become their next franchise quarterback.
