- NFL. George Pickens wasn't Cowboys' first choice: Jerry Jones wanted young Ravens receiver, it's revealed
- NFL. Desmond Watson's agility at Buccaneers minicamp draws attention amid his physical transformation
Shedeur Sanders may have slipped to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he's not short on motivation-or mentorship.
The former Colorado quarterback has the backing of a legend in Tom Brady, who has stepped in with both and a serious message for the young quarterback as he begins his professional career with the Cleveland Browns.
The media storm around Sanders began not with his on-field performance, but with a rumor involving Brady. A post by Skip Bayless on X claimed Brady had privately advised the Las Vegas Raiders not to select Sanders and had a hand in their draft strategy.
The claim ignited widespread discussion, given Brady's mentoring relationship with Sanders and his ownership stake in the Raiders.
But Brady was quick to deny any such involvement-and he didn't hold back when responding to the speculation.
"I wouldn't have [been] part of any evaluation process or to see that. That's the problem with media - everyone can just say whatever the f- they want," Brady said, clarifying his position and dismissing the narrative.
Brady's challenge to Sanders
Having cleared the air, Brady used his platform on the Impaulsive podcast to offer Sanders something more valuable than a denial: guidance. With two simple rules, he laid out what it means to lead as an NFL quarterback.
"He's got to show up every day. - as a quarterback, you have to be a leader. And to me, the leader is, 'do I care about my teammates?' and 'do I care about what we're trying to accomplish?' Like rules one and two," Brady said.
He went further, explaining that leadership in the NFL means being able to more than just fellow rookies.
"Do that because that's what's endearing to your teammates. - you're not just appealing to your 22-year-old rookie," Brady said. "You're appealing to the 32-year-old veteran who's trying to get the last couple years out of his career.
"You're appealing to the coach who doesn't want to get fired. You're appealing to the owner who's made an investment in you. You're appealing to the staff - their lives are riding on the fact that you need to perform well."
For Sanders, who now wears Brady's iconic No. 12 in Cleveland, the advice couldn't be more timely-or symbolic.
Shedeur Sanders already making an impression at Browns minicamp
As rookie minicamp opened in Cleveland, Sanders wasted no time showing he's ready to take the challenge seriously. He split reps with fellow quarterback Dillon Gabriel, but stood out both in preparation and performance.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski noted both quarterbacks' early focus.
"We've spent meeting time with them out of this building. We've taken them through walkthroughs and then they get to go do it in uniform with the helmets on and just see what they can take from the meeting room to the grass," Stefanski said.
The work ethic didn't go unnoticed. According to NFL insider Dov Kleiman, Sanders was among the last players to leave the field on day one.
"Shedeur Sanders was one of the LAST players to leave the Browns' rookie minicamp today. Shedeur is always willing to put in extra hours. This speaks volumes about his character. A mindset that can't be taught," Kleiman posted.
Even LeBron James showed , sharing an Instagram story that read: "Let's get it 12!! 1 day at a time."
Sanders is aware of the expectations and embraces the opportunity to prove himself. His performance at minicamp included accurate deep throws and solid short-game decision-making, according to a report from Browns Nation.
Sanders himself has said he believes he already has what it takes to succeed-and now, the work begins.
With Brady's guidance, a strong start in Cleveland, and a chip on his shoulder, Shedeur Sanders is beginning to write his own NFL story-one practice at a time.