LeSean McCoy Speculates How Shedeur Sanders’ Fifth-Round Draft Status Changed His NFL Confidence

Super Bowl winner, LeSean McCoy believes Shedeur Sanders would be oozing with confidence if he was drafted in the first round.

LeSean McCoy Speculates How Shedeur Sanders’ Fifth-Round Draft Status Changed His NFL Confidence

Shedeur Sanders and LeSean McCoy inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

Despite ending his first season on a disappointing note, experts expected Shedeur Sanders to bounce back in year two under the tutelage of veteran coach Todd Monken. However, the young signal-caller is currently locked into a QB battle with Deshaun Watson.

Monken made it clear very early on in his Cleveland Browns career that both Sanders and Watson have to earn the starter’s job. And he will announce the starter’s name after the camp. So far, neither has claimed a clear edge over the other.

In the latest episode of Speakeasy, former NFL running back LeSean McCoy claimed that Shedeur Sanders is low on confidence because of where he was drafted.

I think if [Shedeur] was the first-round quarterback, his confidence [would’ve] been even better, [even bigger]. Being a fifth-round pick and doing your first-round, your confidence ain’t the same. And talking to him, I can tell a little difference.

McCoy further added that “confidence is everything” for a player. If Sanders were a day one pick, then his treatment would have been a lot different:

It would be different on the conference and how the team and the GM treat me. When you feel like you’ve been there, they treat you like you don’t even count. It’s like, ‘I don’t even belong here.’ I think he’d be a different story if he was first round.

Sanders fans have been quick to compare him with legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady. Brady was a sixth-round pick and only got a chance to start for the New England Patriots after their starter got hurt. And he won the Super Bowl in his first year as QB1. So, Sanders just needs to keep his head down and prove that he’s worthy of being a starter in the NFL.

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NFL Hall of Famer once blamed the NFL teams for robbing Shedeur Sanders of a multi-million-dollar contract

Following an impressive final year in college with Colorado, where he threw for 4134 yards and 37 touchdowns, draft experts like Mel Kiper Jr. viewed Sanders as a top-10 pick. However, Sanders not only fell out of the top 10 picks, but also went undrafted the first two days of the draft. Eventually, the Browns selected Sanders in the fifth round, two rounds after taking former Oregon man Dillon Gabriel.

LeSean McCoy Speculates How Shedeur Sanders’ Fifth-Round Draft Status Changed His NFL Confidence
Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

Sanders signed a four-year, $4.6 million rookie contract with the Browns. If Sanders had been drafted in the first round, he could have signed a contract similar to his peer Cam Ward—signed with the Tennessee Titans as the first overall draft pick.

Dallas Cowboys icon and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin claimed back in 2025 that the NFL had robbed Sanders of a fortune. Irvin ranted via Dov Kleiman on Twitter:

Everybody that has seen him play has said he’s No. 1 or No. 2 in this draft… Can’t be mad at Cleveland, they played their cards and picked him up in the fifth round. But I’d surely like to know how they knew he would still be there.  You just robbed this young man of $50 million. And it wasn’t on his playing ability. Shame on you.

Shedeur Sanders complimented the Browns coaches

During Saturday’s practice, Sanders was reportedly supposed to take first-team reps, but the coaches put Watson ahead of him. The change did not affect Sanders. He said via Ashley Holder of Cleveland9 News:

I think whatever is said is direct. We were informed the right way, so there was never any miscommunication between us. I just don’t appreciate it when things happen and y’all jump on the coach like he’s just tripping or something. I don’t really like that because it creates extra.

On Wednesday, the Browns announced that Watson will start the first preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

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