"Clueless for 50 years": ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. slams NFL teams for letting Shedeur Sanders slip to fifth round

The Cleveland Browns finally pulled the trigger on quarterback Shedeur Sanders, selecting him with the 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, what could have been a routine Day 3 selection quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the weekend, as the ESPN broadcast turned into a fiery roundtable of conflicting opinions and emotional reactions.

Once considered a potential first-rounder, Shedeur Sanders' unexpected fall to the fifth round had already raised eyebrows across the league. But no one was more vocal about it than longtime ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who ranked Sanders No. 5 on his personal big board — notably one spot ahead of eventual No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. As Sanders continued to slide through the draft without hearing his name, Kiper didn't hold back.
“It was disgusting,” Kiper said during the Friday broadcast, referring to Sanders being left out of the first three rounds. That sentiment only intensified on Saturday when the Browns finally made their pick.

As the selection was being analyzed, analyst Louis Riddick brought up the off-the-field concerns that had allegedly played a role in Sanders’ slide. “This is not about: Can you play the position? This is about: Do we want you to play the position for us?” Riddick noted, suggesting that the hesitation may have had more to do with fit and perception than talent.
Kiper wasn’t having any of it. “Why wouldn’t they, Lou? Is he not one of the toughest quarterbacks you’ve ever seen?” he shot back, setting the stage for a tense debate with Riddick and Rece Davis. Kiper’s frustration boiled over as he lambasted the league’s decision-makers: “The NFL has been clueless for 50 years when it comes to evaluating quarterbacks. Clueless. No idea what they’re doing in terms of evaluating quarterbacks.”
While the on-air exchange highlighted the disconnect between media evaluation and NFL front offices, Rece Davis tried to bring balance, stating, “Nobody’s criticizing what happened. We’re saying (Sanders) has to deal with the reality of the result from it. Pick 144, Shedeur Sanders. Everyone wishes him well. As we do.”

Off-camera, the Sanders family embraced the moment with jubilation. Shedeur’s brother, Shilo, streamed the reaction live on Twitch, capturing the family’s elation. Shedeur, donning a Browns hat, took to Instagram Live with a celebratory pool jump. His simple, faith-filled message posted on X said it all: “Thank you GOD.”
Though the fall was unexpected, the story of Shedeur Sanders is far from over. With a chip on his shoulder and an opportunity in Cleveland, his NFL journey is just beginning — and clearly, it’s one being watched closely by critics, analysts, and fans alike.
Also Read: Browns coach Kevin Stefanski slams ‘morons’ who prank called Shedeur Sanders during his shocking NFL draft slide