After one of the more hyped-up pre-draft processes and draft coverages in recent memory, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders suffered a slide down the rounds until his selection on Day 3, a surprise for many after multiple mock drafts predicted him as a first-round choice.
But despite all of the attention lavished upon him and his situation, once the Browns' rookie minicamp started Friday, it was all business for Sanders.
"I don't even try to think about that day, because I got practice, you know?" Sanders said Saturday in his first comments since draft weekend. "All that stuff was cool for that time, but now I've got practice, I've got to learn the playbooks."
Drafted in the fifth round at No. 144 overall after an extended wait, the Colorado product starts his NFL career in a less certain position than some other rookie quarterbacks, knowing that he'll have to do the work to make his way into a starting lineup and show why he believes he's better than his draft position.
And in starting the work to achieve that goal, Sanders sees the similarities to the early years of a future Pro Football Hall of Famer in Tom Brady, who had an even longer wait before being selected by the Patriots at No. 199 in 2000.
The Las Vegas Raiders minority owner said this week that he reached out to Sanders to encourage the young QB and remind him that success can come from anywhere in the draft, as it did for him. Sanders received that message, taking to heart the approach of looking beyond his draft selection to the process ahead.
"My story is going to be similar, you know, I was a late-round draft pick," Sanders said. "But we're here now, so none of that stuff matters, it just mattered on the day. I'm just excited to be here and ready to work."
That endeavor begins with the impending competition between Sanders and the other four members of the Browns quarterback room. That includes fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who has been alongside Sanders in the last couple days' workouts.
While Sanders acknowledged that the group is inherently in competition for the same role, he said his focus remains on his own play and making the jump to the next level, saying that "I can't control any other decision besides that, so I just try to be my best self at all times."
"Of course it's day by day," Sanders said. "I just find something I want to perfect and perfect it to the best of my abilities. That's all I really focus on, just being there and a leader, teammate and doing what I need to do whenever it is. So, I'm thankful for the opportunity. Things could have been a lot worse but I'm here smiling in front of you all at this facility right now."
While the process to find his NFL home ended up being bumpier than he imagined, Sanders nevertheless has his team in Cleveland, and his goal of earning his spot in sight. And with that focus turned toward the season and away from the noise, Sanders emphasized that the months and maybe years ahead will just be about showing the world what he already believes about himself.
"My job here isn't to prove people wrong, I'm proving myself right," he said. "And I fully still have belief."
