Perhaps nobody advocated more for Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL draft than ESPN broadcaster Mel Kiper Jr., and the Cleveland Browns rookie's famous father appreciated the support.

The Cleveland Browns eventually drafted former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. However, the Browns did not select Sanders until they and every other NFL franchise passed on him multiple times. Sanders went from being a projected first-round pick to not being selected until No. 144 overall.

Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason said this week that he spoke with three different personnel people in the NFL that removed Sanders off their draft boards completely because the team owners made it clear they did not want him. "Shedeur Sanders just torpedoed himself," Esiason said.