Tom Brady’s draft role with Shedeur Sanders sparks NFL drama
Drama Ongoing Following NFL Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The NFL draft has been over for months, but what went down during draft week is still a hot topic around the league. The latest twist involves drama between legendary quarterback Tom Brady and rookie signal-caller Shedeur Sanders. Now, another former NFL star is part of the conversation.
Like every other team, the Las Vegas Raiders had several chances to draft Sanders but chose not to. He was eventually selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.
That’s where the story begins with Brady, now part of the Raiders ownership group. During the 2025 NFL Draft, Brady claimed, “I wasn’t a part of any evaluation process.”
Recent Developments on Brady vs. Sanders
On a recent episode of "The Rich Eisen Show," NFL insider Albert Breer revealed a different version of events. Breer said Brady did, in fact, meet with the Raiders’ coaching staff to help with quarterback evaluations.
“He helped with their QB evaluation. Obviously, who wouldn’t want Tom Brady involved in that? So he flew in incognito for a day to sit down with the front office and coaches, to go through quarterbacks and look at quarterbacks on tape,” Breer explained.
This new information directly contradicts Brady’s earlier claims and raises questions about how involved he was behind the scenes and whether he really stayed out of the Raiders’ quarterback decisions.
How Does Terrell Owens Fit in the Story?
In the same Instagram post that claimed Brady was part of the evaluation process, Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens made a comment that seemed to back up the claim.
Owens wrote, “I just told someone the other day that Tom played Shedeur. I’m not surprised.”
Brady Has Served as a Mentor for Sanders
Sanders has often referred to Brady as a mentor. In a February interview with Sports Illustrated, he recalled an early meeting between the two.
“He took me in his truck to this high school field,” Sanders said. “From then on, he was just telling me knowledge and I filmed everything, recorded everything. Now sometimes I go back and listen to the things he said and it registers. Everything he said back then applies now, and that’s why I’m thankful for him.”
How the Draft Slide Went Down
Once projected as high as the No. 2 pick, Sanders fell to Day 3 and was selected 144th overall. In May, he signed a four-year, $4.6 million deal with Cleveland, including a $447,380 signing bonus.
Sanders’ first preseason game showed promise. If he keeps progressing, the pressure could quickly build in Cleveland for Sanders to move up the depth chart.
The Browns visit the Philadelphia Eagles at 1 p.m. ET Saturday in their second preseason game.
Related: Video of Shedeur Sanders Confronting His Critic Is Going Viral
Related: ESPN Makes Shedeur Sanders Statement After NFL Preseason Debut
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
