Shedeur Sanders suspicions raised by Super Bowl | NFL News

Drew Bledsoe expressed his shock at Shedeur Sanders’ being chosen so late in the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite Sanders’ spectacular monitor document as a Colorado alumnus, including clinching the celebrated Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award just final 12 months, he was picked up by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th total selection in the fifth spherical.

This surprising flip of occasions has sparked debate over Sanders’ prospects of outshining established quarterback Deshaun Watson or even Dillon Gabriel, the Oregon standout drafted earlier by the Browns. Bledsoe, puzzled by the choice, shared his ideas with Colin Cowherd on The Herd: “I thought he was first round talent. I don’t know the guy, it’s still a mystery to me why he fell as far as he did.

“But when I watch him, he is correct. He throws with anticipation. There’s a quarterback factor that I all the time look for if I’m watching quarterbacks. You know, those that are profitable, you may virtually see the long run, proper? You have to have the option to anticipate, you have got to throw guys open.

“If you wait to see a guy open, especially if you rise to NFL level, then you’re behind and you’re just not going to be successful. And I’ve watched that happen with some quarterbacks that had really big arm talent, but they had to wait to see somebody open before they throw the ball.”

“Shedeur seems to be able to anticipate well. I liked watching him in college. Again, he didn’t have a ton of help up front, he was getting hit. It’s another thing that I look for, you know? I’m always kind of suspicious when you see some of these quarterbacks that come out of the great programmes – the Ohio States and Alabamas of the world – because you know they’re out there.

“Their guys are higher than the opposite guys. They’re not getting hit, they’re throwing to open guys. Most guys ought to have the option to do that, but when you watch a man that’s getting hit repeatedly and still popping up and making the performs for you, that’s one thing that…that is a high quality that’s onerous to study, if you may study it.

“And he got his backside knocked off in college and still continued to battle, and then play, then play, then play well. So I believe he’s going to have some success at some point, whether it’s this year, next year, whenever that happens.”

Sasoned professional Bledsoe could discover common ground with Sanders, notably if the latter is handed over for the 2025 season in favour of Watson or Gabriel.

This is reminiscent of Bledsoe’s own expertise in 2001 when he was relegated to second string behind Tom Brady at the New England Patriots, despite having been the franchise’s beginning quarterback for practically eight seasons. That 12 months, Bledsoe only began two video games for the Patriots, finishing 40 out of 66 makes an attempt for two touchdowns but failing to secure a win in either match.

Despite this, the Patriots clinched the AFC East title that 12 months and triumphed in Super Bowl XXXVI with a 20-17 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Brady emerged as the standout participant in his breakthrough season, even bagging the Super Bowl MVP award.

Despite being a late draft decide, Sanders landed a four-year contract with the Browns value $4.6 million, including a signing bonus of $447,380. It stays to be seen how the franchise will select to deploy him in future seasons.

This story first appeared on the Mirror US