“Quinn Ewers ain’t going to get drafted higher”: Ryan Clark shuts down Cam Newton’s doubts around Shedeur Sanders’ ability

Shedeur Sanders spent two seasons with the Colorado Buffaloes. He recorded a total of 7,364 yards and 64 TDs passing and was honored with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award this campaign. The quarterback is projected to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

However, on Saturday's episode of First Take, former NFL star Cam Newton raised some doubts about Shedeur's abilities. During Newton's conversation with Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Clark, he questioned whether Shedeur Sanders would have been a four-year starter under another head coach in a different program or a Power 4 team.

Ryan Clark laid Newton's doubts to rest with a very straightforward answer.

"I'm gonna say this and then we will talk about this when the draft comes, Quinn Ewers ain't gonna get drafted higher than Shedeur Sanders," Clark said. "Carson Beck ain't gonna be drafted higher than Shedeur Sanders if he decides to come out."

"So when we're comparing him to his actual peers, at the position, at this time, it doesn't matter if he'll be a four-year starter. I know what I've seen on film is better than all of these guys at all of these other schools. (TS- 9:45)

Shedeur has had a successful collegiate journey alongside his dad, Coach Prime. Coming out of Trinity Christian School, the quarterback committed to playing for Jackson State in the HBCU in 2021 when his dad was the head coach.

He helped the Tigers win back-to-back SWAC championships before entering the transfer portal and joining Colorado in 2023, where Coach Prime took over as the head coach.

---

Ex-NFL star rejects AFC powerhouse as possible destination for Shedeur Sanders in the NFL

The Tennessee Titans, the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants have the top three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Shedeur could be the first quarterback to be picked in the draft. However, former NFL star Josh Cribbs believes that the Browns can be sidelined from this equation.

While discussing Shedeur Sanders' future in the NFL on his podcast last week, Cribbs said that Coach Prime would not allow his son to play for an organization struggling in the QB department.

"It's not a diss to Shedeur," Cribbs said. "It's just his father is very prominent, right? I don't want it to be a situation like Eli Manning had when he came out and he just refused to go to another NFL team. They basically put him with the New York Giants. He had success. It worked."

"I don't think Prime-Deion Sanders- would allow his pride and joy, Shedeur Sanders, to come to the Browns at this point in our organizational build."

The Browns will have to address their quarterback woes in the draft in April. Their massive pay to bring in Deshaun Watson through a trade didn't play out as they were hoping for. Apart from him, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Jameis Winston, and Bailey Zappe have been inconsistent as well.

Thus, in this draft, they will be hoping to finally find a quarterback that fits their scheme. It will be interesting to see if Shedeur could be a potential target for them in April.