If you need proof that timing doesn’t define your greatness or destiny, look no further than Shedeur Sanders.
Despite the 23-year-old quarterback waiting until pick No. 144 in the fifth round to hear his name called on NFL Draft Day, the Cleveland Browns aren’t having any trouble selling his new jersey. In fact, it’s flying off the shelves.
Even better, according to Darren Rovell of cllct.com, Sanders’ jersey is currently the best-selling among the NFL rookie class of 2025, making him the first-ever fifth-round pick to claim the No. 1 spot.
And that’s all before Sander officially decides what his jersey number will be in the NFL.
At both Jackson State and Colorado, Sanders wore No. 2, so there’s a good chance he’ll stick with it as he enters the league.
Regardless, Sanders’s free fall into the fifth round doesn’t seem to have dimmed his shine. If anything, it has only made him more popular and rooted for by fans.
Just a reminder that nothing and no one can block what’s already destined for you.
Shedeur, son of NFL Hall of Famer and current Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders, was passed over in the first four rounds of the draft, which began on April 24.
He was finally selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th overall pick on April 26.
According to NFL.com, the Browns passed over Sanders six separate times before ultimately making him their fifth-round pick.
Still, once the moment arrived, Shedeur responded with a simple, heartfelt post on X: “Thank you, GOD.”
Thank you GOD
— Shedeur Sanders (@ShedeurSanders) April 26, 2025
Soon after, the Browns took to their own X account to celebrate the new addition with a highlight reel of Sanders, captioned, “Another playmaker in the mix,” along with a bullseye emoji.
Another playmaker in the mix ????@ShedeurSanders | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/Foa0ykFnhb
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 26, 2025
The fifth-round selection surprised Sanders and his dad, who threw a lavish draft-day party on the first day of the draft.
During the festivities, Deion, 57, could be seen shaking his head in disappointment when the New Orleans Saints, considered a likely destination for his son, opted to draft Kelvin Banks Jr. instead.
Deion Sanders reacting to the #Saints picking Kelvin Banks Jr.
Deion had New Orleans as a likely landing spot for Shedeur, who wasn’t drafted on Day 1. pic.twitter.com/AF5IBy1gvv
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) April 25, 2025
Despite the setback, Shedeur stayed optimistic, telling fans that everything happens for a reason and that the delay only “added fuel to his fire.”
Deion echoed his sentiments in a statement shared on his Instagram.
“We trust GOD & and we don’t know any other way,” in simple white letters over a black background,” he wrote at the time.
Sanders heads to Cleveland with a strong collegiate résumé.
In the 2024 season, the 23-year-old was named Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns.
He also threw for 64 touchdown passes over his two seasons, which was a school record, per the Cleveland Browns’ website.
Prior to the draft, many expected Sanders to be selected in the first or second round by top-tier teams like the New York Giants or Pittsburgh Steelers.
