The NFL draft is supposed to be a place where dreams come true. Years of hard work, pain, suffering and sacrifices finally get paid when your name gets called from the podium. But for Shedeur Sanders, it slowly turned into a painful nightmare. In a weak QB class, Sanders was once predicted to be picked No.1 overall. However, once the draft came around, Sanders was forced to smile through the pain. Round after round, night after night, pick after pick went by, but his turn never came. At least not until the Cleveland Browns finally ended his draft slide in the fifth round. Given how far Sanders fell with 5 QBs picked ahead of him, Michael Strahan and Tom Brady united to give their thoughts on the most controversial NFL draft slides the league would probably ever witness again.

See, it’s not like the NFL hasn’t witnessed shocking slides in the past. Aaron Rodgers astonishingly fell to the 25th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft. The 49ers, who were supposed to pick Rodgers, ended up going for Alex Smith. While Rodgers went to Green Bay, won a Super Bowl, 4 league MVPs and is now a future Hall of Famer. Elsewhere, Lamar Jackson also went through similar pain, falling to the 32nd pick in the 2018 draft. He waited and waited with his mom in the green room while 4 QBs were taken ahead of him. Now, look at him in Baltimore, Jackson, who is still only 28, has already won two league MVP titles.

So, when Michael Strahan was asked to give his thoughts on Shedeur’s historic draft day slide on Good Morning America, he didn’t mince his words, criticising those who passed on him. “I don’t think this kid definitely should have dropped to the fifth round..If there’s a good quarterback, people want a good quarterback. You’ve watched so many quarterbacks who have no amount of production like he had, and it’s about numbers when it comes to quarterbacks,” Strahan said. Like, Strahan ain’t wrong when it comes to pointing out Shedeur’s incredible production. 

He passed over 4,000 yards, threw 27 TDs and even led FBS in pass completion rate. So, it’s not that he didn’t make enough plays or wasn’t good enough to lead. That’s why his draft day slide was shocking to everyone in the NFL. Meanwhile, Tom Brady, who was picked 199th overall, also shared his thoughts on Sanders being ignored. Strahan, who apparently spent some time with his fellow Fox colleague this past weekend, said Brady told him, “It doesn’t matter where you’re picked.” 

For Brady, obviously, it didn’t matter where he got picked. A 7-time Super Bowl Champion—more Super Bowls than any other franchise. Brady was a prime example of how to make people regret not picking you. Sanders also thanked the Browns for giving him the opportunity when others didn’t. While Sanders got his much-needed opportunity, it came at a cost.

Shedeur Sanders’ draft day slide tanks his valuation

Right now, Sanders is probably just thankful for getting his chance in the NFL. But compared to his once projected valuation, Sanders is nowhere near the top. Based on the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, the size of a rookie contract depends on the player’s draft position. Given Cam Ward was this year’s No.1 overall, his contract is set to be worth $48.7M, as per Spotrac. Abdul Carter, drafted No.3 overall, is projected to land a contract worth $45.1M. Meanwhile, Sanders is expected to be valued at around $6 million, according to Spotrac.

Astonishingly $6M is even less than Sanders’ NIL valuation last year. Bagging deals from companies like Gatorade, Beats by Dre, Google, KFC and Mercedes-Benz, Sanders’ NIL valuation was $6.5M. But for the next four years, he probably won’t even make as much money as he used to earn in a year. However, Shedeur Sanders obviously won’t be focusing on the financial implications right now. Considering the Browns QB room is stacked with 4 QBs ahead of them. He needs to prove his worth first, then think about money.

Otherwise, his dream that finally came true can again give him nightmares if he doesn’t win the Browns’ starting QB berth. He may have already said that he will prove picking him was a good decision. But only his plays in the NFL will determine his future in the years to come.