In the hyper-competitive world of professional football, where an NFL dream can be shattered in an instant, it seems a given that a young player would seize any opportunity presented. However, Shedeur Sanders, one of college football’s brightest talents, penned an entirely different chapter in his 2025 NFL Draft story. What the football world once thought was merely a shocking rumor about him rejecting the Baltimore Ravens has now been exposed by former NFL MVP Cam Newton as a truth far more astonishing: Sanders flatly rejected not one, but three teams on the same fateful draft day. This revelation, made on Newton’s “Fourth and One” podcast on September 17, 2025, has not only completely reshaped our perception of Shedeur Sanders but has also sparked widespread debate about player power, career strategy, and media ethics in the modern NFL.

Cam Newton’s Bombshell: Three Teams Turned Down

Before September 17, 2025, the story of Shedeur Sanders at the 2025 NFL Draft was a great mystery. Once projected as a top-10 pick after a brilliant career at Jackson State and Colorado, Sanders inexplicably slid to the fifth round. A few days before Newton’s exposé, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Baltimore Ravens intended to select Sanders with the 141st pick, but Sanders’ camp “conveyed he preferred not to be in a situation where he’s backing up Lamar Jackson.” This news alone was stunning, given the Ravens’ esteemed reputation for player development.

But Cam Newton, armed with his credible sources, didn’t just confirm the story; he amplified the drama tenfold. Newton declared that Sanders had turned down not only the Ravens but also the Philadelphia Eagles and, ultimately, the Cleveland Browns—three teams that had intended to select him between picks 141 and 150 in the fifth round. “My source tells me that it wasn’t just the Baltimore Ravens, it was three teams: the Cleveland Browns, the Philadelphia Eagles, and it also was Baltimore Ravens,” Newton emphasized.

Sanders’ audacity was unprecedented. A rookie, especially one who had fallen far from his initial projection, managing to exercise the kind of leverage that rejects multiple prestigious teams is unheard of. This opens a new perspective on player empowerment in the modern NFL, where the line between arrogance and strategic vision becomes blurred.

The Context of the Decision: Strategic Vision or Unrealistic Expectations?

To truly understand Sanders’ decision, we must delve into the context behind it. Shedeur Sanders concluded his college career with over 10,000 passing yards, 99 touchdowns, and a 69.3% completion rate. He was an undeniable talent. So why did he fall so far, and why did he turn down such clear opportunities?

Newton provided a crucial perspective on Sanders’ motives, countering the criticisms of arrogance. According to Newton, Sanders held “profound respect” for established stars like Lamar Jackson (Ravens) and Jalen Hurts (Eagles). He recognized that on those teams, his significant playing time would likely only come if these top-tier quarterbacks were injured. “My source tells me that Shedeur had too much respect for Lamar Jackson, had too much respect for Jalen Hurts, and he would be in a situation where he would have needed that individual in Lamar and Jalen to get hurt in order for him to have an opportunity to play,” Newton explained.

This completely reframes the narrative from one of arrogance to one of strategic thinking. Sanders didn’t believe he was too good for those teams; rather, he understood that his path to a starting role would be vastly different depending on where he landed.

Baltimore Ravens: With Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP at just 28, in his prime and under contract through 2027, Sanders’ chances of seeing the field were slim. The Ravens envisioned a “long-term project” requiring 2-3 years of development, a timeline Sanders’ camp found unacceptable.
Philadelphia Eagles: Similarly, Jalen Hurts, 26, had just signed a 5-year, $255 million extension in 2023 and was coming off an impressive 2024 season. The Eagles might have viewed Sanders as a valuable future trade asset, but not as a quarterback with an immediate path to playing time.
Cleveland Browns: This is where the story becomes most fascinating. The Browns’ quarterback situation was chaotic following the disappointing end of the Deshaun Watson era. With 40-year-old Joe Flacco serving as a bridge starter and third-round rookie Dylan Gabriel in the mix, Cleveland offered a much clearer path to competition. Sanders wanted to “go to a team that I can do what? Play,” Newton revealed.

The philosophy of Sanders and his team was clear: “All money ain’t good money, and every opportunity is not really a great opportunity for where you are or what your vision is”. This represents a significant departure from traditional thinking, where young players are expected to be grateful for any opportunity and to “pay their dues” regardless of the circumstances.

Deion Sanders: The Undeniable Influence

The role of Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father, in this process cannot be overstated. As an NFL legend and his son’s mentor, Deion wielded significant influence in shaping these draft decisions. Deion’s public comments in March 2025 about certain teams being “off-limits” had already signaled that the Sanders family would be highly selective about Shedeur’s destination.

Newton suggested that Deion passed his confidence on to his son, and that “through many NFL sources, it’s basically concluded that teams didn’t choose Shedeur because maybe he was a little too confident, maybe his father’s a little too confident. In a couple of NFL teams, it felt like Shedeur was choosing us, not we were choosing him”.

Newton’s framing of Sanders’ decision-making as respectful rather than arrogant is crucial. It wasn’t about disrespecting Baltimore or Philadelphia; it was about recognizing that those situations wouldn’t provide the developmental opportunities Sanders was seeking.

The NFL’s Reaction and Long-Term Implications

Newton’s revelation created a media firestorm, dividing opinions. Within 72 hours, the story generated over 40,000 posts with hashtags like #ShadeurSnubs and #BusinessDecision. Some fans admired Sanders’ agency and business acumen, while others viewed his actions as entitled and short-sighted.

Former quarterback Alex Smith called Sanders’ decision “incredibly short-sighted,” arguing that learning from established stars in stable organizations would have been more beneficial than competing in Cleveland’s dysfunction. He emphasized that the Ravens represented the “gold standard of organizational stability and quarterback development”.

However, the pro-Sanders camp, led by Newton, viewed the decision as smart business. Newton revealed that Sanders was willing to risk going completely undrafted rather than accept a situation that didn’t align with his goals. “My sources also tell me this: going back to draft day, there was a thought that Shedeur had, ‘I want to go somewhere to prove myself, even if it comes at a cost of being undrafted,’” Newton shared.

This demonstrates a level of self-belief rarely seen in draft prospects, especially those who have already fallen from their projected draft position. The willingness to potentially forgo an NFL opportunity altogether to find the “right fit” shows a powerful conviction in one’s own worth.

The Future for Shedeur and the NFL

As of September 20, 2025, Sanders remained the third-string quarterback for the Browns, behind Joe Flacco and rookie Dylan Gabriel. While his preseason performance was impressive (26-of-35 for 267 yards, 2 TDs, and an 82.4 PFF grade), he had yet to see regular-season action. This reality provided ammunition for critics, but it also validated Sanders’ strategic thinking. With Flacco struggling (58% completion rate, 1-3 TD-INT ratio through two games) and the Browns sitting at 0-2, Sanders’ opportunity for meaningful playing time appeared to be approaching faster than it would have in Baltimore or Philadelphia.

Sanders’ 4-year, $4.22 million contract with Cleveland includes performance incentives worth up to $1.5 million for significant playing time—money he would be unlikely to earn sitting behind Jackson or Hurts. This shows his decision was not only professionally strategic but also financially sound.

The long-term implications of Sanders’ draft-day decisions extend far beyond his individual career. We may be witnessing the emergence of a new paradigm in NFL draft strategy, where even late-round prospects feel empowered to influence their destinations. This represents a fundamental shift in the traditional power structure of the NFL Draft, where teams have historically held all the leverage.

Newton concluded his analysis by reinforcing that Sanders’ approach, while unconventional, represents the kind of self-advocacy that can define successful careers. He advised Sanders and any other young player to “stay ready” because “just because one team thinks you’re trash, you may be the missing piece or the treasure to another team”.

Whether Shedeur Sanders’ unprecedented draft-day gambit will be remembered as a masterstroke of career management or a cautionary tale about overplaying one’s hand remains to be seen. What is certain is that his willingness to turn down multiple NFL teams on the same day has forever changed the conversation about player empowerment in the modern draft era.