Shedeur Sanders endured a brutally humbling experience as he slid all the way to the fifth round of the NFL Draft, and San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch has had his say
Shedeur Sanders slid to round 5(Image: Getty)
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has shared his “empathy” for Shedeur Sanders after the quarterback endured a brutal slide in the NFL Draft.
The former Colorado star started the draft process in contention for the No. 1 overall pick, but his stock slumped as the big night neared. Still, he was widely considered to be the second-best QB in the class behind ex-Miami standout Cam Ward, who was taken by the Tennessee Titans with the first pick seven days ago.
Sanders was expected to be taken in the first round, but it was not until day three and the fifth round that he was finally selected. The Cleveland Browns, who had picked Oregon signal-caller Dillon Gabriel in the fourth, finally called the 23-year-old’s name with the 144th overall pick.
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Sanders has never been shy in showing his confidence, but he would become the butt of jokes and the victim of a cruel prank as his slide went on. Lynch expressed his sympathy for Sanders in a post-draft media availability.
“There’s a lot of time and we’re all doing our work, but then you’re sitting up there and this was a story that kind of was prevalent,” Lynch told reporters. “I think more than anything, just empathy, that’s tough for a young man.
“But I know that he’s a competitor. I know that he’s got his opportunity now and I think we tell people all the time, it’s not when you go, it’s not where you go, it’s what you do with that opportunity.”
Lynch said he felt sorry for Sanders as he endured a brutal slide in the draft(Image: Getty Images)
Questions over Sanders’ character dominated the build-up to the draft, with numerous reports that he left teams unimpressed during interviews.
But Lynch recalled a very different first impression of the quarterback, and he says he has the opportunity to prove his doubters wrong with the Browns, where the quarterback position is up for grabs.
“He’s got that opportunity in Cleveland and I’m excited for him,” Lynch said. “I remember seeing him down at Jackson State, his true freshman year, and really enjoying getting to know the kid.
“A lot of things are said about him, but now he gets to go prove that he’s worthy of that pick by the Browns and we wish him nothing but the best.”
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Lynch has his own quarterback issues to figure out this offseason. Starting quarterback Brock Purdy has entered the final year of his rookie deal, which has seen the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant go significantly underpaid.
Former seventh-round pick Purdy, who led his team to the Super Bowl in 2024 and has played in the NFC Championship Game twice, earned a salary just shy of $1 million in 2024.
That number rises to $5.3 million this year, but it is crucial that Lynch and the 49ers secure the franchise’s future and tie Purdy down to a big-money new deal, with negotiations yet to materialize in an agreement.
A crucial season awaits Lynch and Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan after the team unexpectedly slumped to a 6-11 record last season, finishing rock bottom of the NFC West.