Shedeur Sanders, once a top prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft, experienced a surprising slide, going undrafted in the first round until the Cleveland Browns selected him 144th overall. Notably, former President Donald Trump tweeted support for Sanders during the draft, which led to speculation about his influence on the Browns’ decision. During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested a correlation between Trump’s statement and Sanders’ eventual selection, saying, “the facts speak for themselves.” This comment sparked backlash, as Sanders was drafted nearly 36 hours after Trump’s tweet, leading many to criticize the timing and imply Trump’s role was exaggerated. Social media users expressed skepticism, pointing out that the Browns had drafted another quarterback earlier, suggesting that Sanders wasn’t a priority for them. Critics highlighted how Leavitt’s remarks seemed to reflect a lack of understanding of the draft process. Ultimately, Browns General Manager Andrew Berry stated that the team viewed Sanders as a solid prospect, implying that the decision was based on their evaluation rather than external pressure. Now, Sanders joins a competitive quarterback room that includes established players like Deshaun Watson and Joe Flacco.
