The Cleveland Browns went from having one developmental quarterback plus the injured Deshaun Watson to now having a full QB room with five signal-callers.
This is due in part to the fact that the Browns drafted two quarterbacks in last month’s NFL draft. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and fifth-round selection Shedeur Sanders joined Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Watson to compete for the starting position as well as backup and QB3. Watson is expected to be inserted on the IR list at some point.
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Sanders was ranked as a Top-5 prospect by many media outlets, as well as through self-promotion by his agent and father, Deion Sanders. Several draft sites had Sanders as a second-round pick, but nobody predicted his slide into the third round, which became the fourth round, and finally, when the Browns chose him in Round 5.
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The descent was a huge fall for the talented quarterback, and of course, is considered a draft steal for Cleveland.
Many had speculated that Sanders would fall out of Round 1, but the crash and burn wasn’t predicted by a single soul in the industry.
A person who would know about the unpredictability of the NFL draft has reached out to Sanders and has offered some good advice.
Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady had a message for Sanders, sent via text. He recently discussed his interaction with the young QB on the “Impaulsive” podcast.
Brady stated:
“I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well. And I said, ‘Dude, like whatever happens, wherever you go, that’s your first day. Day 2 matters more than the draft.”
Brady should know. He only started his junior and senior years at Michigan and was not invited to a single All-Star game. Then, he dropped to the sixth round, taken with draft pick #199 in the 2000 draft. He was the seventh quarterback selected.
2000: QB Drew Bledsoe and No. 2 backup QB Tom Brady
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Arriving at his rookie training camp, Brady was listed fourth on the Patriots depth chart, and by Week 1 was penciled in as the backup to Pro Bowler Drew Bledsoe. In Week 2 of Brady’s second season, Bledsoe suffered internal bleeding after a hit against the New York Jets. Brady became his replacement and then started in Week 3. New England then won their first Super Bowl as Brady became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
When Bledsoe returned healthy, he was traded to the Buffalo Bills. Under Brady, the Patriots played in 11 Super Bowls and captured six. Brady and head coach Bill Belichick formed the NFL’s most successful quarterback–head coach tandem.
Brady wanted Sanders to take his experience as one of those that teams overlooked time-after-time, then harness that and make it his drive in the league.
On the podcast, Brady continued his message to Sanders:
“Wherever you end up going … it’s about your performance. What do you do when you get there? Because you’re going to get there.”
Many assumed the Las Vegas Raiders would select Sanders, who owned the #6 pick in Round 1. But the Raiders selected RB Ashton Jeanty of Boise State instead. Brady has been a mentor to Sanders in the past and has a relationship with his Hall of Fame father, Deion. Plus, Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders.
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The Raiders were one team that was expected to take a quarterback at some point. The franchise had traded their high second-round spot and had the #58 slot, which they used to take WR Jack Bech of TCU. They had five more picks before Sanders was taken in Round 5. Las Vegas eventually selected QBs Tommy Mellott from Montana State and Cam Miller of North Dakota State in Round 6. However, Mellott is slated to be converted to receiver.
On the Raiders’ passing on Sanders seven times in the draft, Brady offered:
“I wasn’t a part of any evaluation process.”
Brady did have quite a bit to offer Sanders on the podcast as it remains a hot topic:
“So what’s it matter than some overhyped day where a lot of people are selling stories and saying, ‘All right this is the big day and this is the draft and it’s an important day and it’s fun and I love you know watching it and seeing it but I’ve also been there on Day 2 when they have to show up and actually learn a playbook, be a part of a locker room. There’s a lot of growth that has to happen.”
And Sanders may be paying tribute to Brady. Instead of wearing his high school and college number 2, the rookie will don #12 instead, Brady’s jersey number.
Brady is regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks to play professional football. He has won seven championships, which tied the record held by Browns quarterback Otto Graham.
Brady’s path just might be the blueprint for Sanders’ quest. Brady gave some great instructions on how to deal with the disappointment of the draft:
“I was 199. So, who can speak on it better than me? Like what that really means. Use it as motivation, you’re going to get your chances, go take advantage of it.”
Exactly what Browns fans are thinking.