Cam Ward was once asked, “Who’s the best quarterback in this draft, that’s not you?” His answer was an instantaneous “Shedeur Sanders.” And if you’ve ever taken the time to compare these two, there are similarities that jump out right off the bat. Both of them have a signature blend of confidence and skills. If you look at their ‘24 season, Sanders had amassed 4,134 passing yards with 37 TDs. And what about Cam? He had a similar, but slightly better, 4,313 yards and 39 TDs. Not that big of a difference, though. Still, one went first overall, and the other went 144th overall. But we all know that story. But they have a history that goes beyond the drafts.
The two rookies, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, go back about five years to Ward’s days at Incarnate Word. And talking about his draft fall, Ward has even defended Sanders at pressers. “I’ve created a special relationship with him – he’s a good quarterback. He doesn’t get a lot of the credit he deserves. Especially the plays that he made at Colorado; a lot of quarterbacks in the country aren’t making those plays.” With all this history and love between them, there’s also a notable moment of trash talk at a pre-draft workout. These rookies are not afraid to speak their minds to each other; that much is for sure. So when someone captured an interaction between the two on Friday, it quickly made the rounds on the internet. Fans were quick to notice how their careers, although with similar numbers, have taken different routes.
On Friday, May 16th, 39 rookies from this year’s draft class gathered under one roof for a ‘Jersey Reveal’. It was hosted by Fanatics and the NFLPA in Los Angeles, and that’s where our QBs met. As per a post on X by GUCCE, Cam Ward can be seen eagerly asking Shedeur Sanders if he would consider switching his No. 12 jersey with Ward. Sanders’ response? A hilarious ‘no’ with hidden layers. Sanders said, “I gotta sell it – I gotta have some type of money. You feel me? – I’m already down.” Now, let’s be real, they are only joking around. They can’t make that switch or sell it, anyway. But still, Ward’s hilarious quip doesn’t seem to go that well. Why? Well, despite having similar stats, their draft stories could not be any more different.
Cam Ward asks Shedeur Sanders for his jersey and this was his response:
“I gotta sell it—I’m already down.” pic.twitter.com/6FBsAp7GfK
— GUCCE (@gucceCU) May 17, 2025
Cam Ward was the undeniable first-round pick. And that’s exactly what he got with the Tennessee Titans. Shedeur was a projected first-rounder or early second-rounder, too. But he sank like a lead balloon till the Cleveland Browns took him on board as the 144th overall pick. And while Cam Ward got a massive $48.7 million rookie deal, Shedeur was holding a $4.6 million deal himself. That’s the difference between the first-round payout and the fifth-round payout. Cam even got the special green light to continue wearing his No. 1. So it only makes sense that Shedeur would refuse and turn away at Ward’s jersey switch proposal. And Sanders is clearly on a mission with the Browns, so he’s not worrying about jersey switches right now.
Shedeur Sanders’ plan for the Browns
Interestingly, Shedeur Sanders was asked at the rookie minicamp if he’d want to purchase the No. 2 jersey from Browns WR DeAndre Carter. His response? “I’m not tryna buy anything – My signing bonus ain’t that high right now.” And that’s true. His signing bonus is north of 400K right now, and as a stark contrast, Ward’s signing bonus is $32 million. So Sanders is not thinking about switching jerseys, or even selling his own. Whether it’s with Cam Ward or DeAndre Carter. And Sanders has big plans for his jersey. It’s a tribute to Tom Brady, as well as Deion Sanders. And he intends to make them proud. It’s almost like he chose the No. 12 so he could set the highest bar possible for himself.
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Cleveland Browns Rookie Minicamp May 10, 2025 Berea, OH, USA Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders 12 talks to the media during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Berea CrossCountry Mortgage Campus OH USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKenxBlazex 20250510_kab_bk4_016
While Shedeur Sanders said no to Cam Ward, it wasn’t just about money, though it was a big reason, sure. Ward will be reeling in the big bucks with the Titans and leading the change in the team. In contrast, Shedeur has to earn his spot on the team and prove he’s the standout in a crowded QB room. GM Andrew Berry has laid out the expectations for the whole draft class very clearly. As Berry had notably said, “They’ve all got to come up the learning curve quickly. – they’re in a new environment, they’re learning new skills kind of on the job. And Kevin’s message to them last night during the first team meeting was, hey, your focus is – it’s making the team. And then after that, it’s earning a role.” And Shedeur is focusing solely on that right now.
Shedeur is doubling down on all his efforts and earning the respect of his teammates. Analysts who once showered him with skepticism are nowhere to be seen. What we can see now is a rookie with the grit and determination to prove to himself, more than anyone in the league, that his spot on a team is justified. As he had so iconically said, “I’m not here to prove anyone wrong. I’m here to prove myself right.”
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