Sanders, a fifth-round pick at No. 144 in the 2025 draft, becomes the first rookie drafted that late to reach the Pro Bowl since Puka Nacua in 2023. He wasn’t projected to play right away, rising from third on the depth chart behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel to start Week 12.
The Pro Bowl selection process placed Sanders among AFC QBs after Josh Allen earned the starting nod and Justin Herbert backed him up, with Drake Maye also selected. The move opened a spot that appeared to have been filled by Sanders due to the New England Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl.
Giants tackle Jermaine Eluemunor publicly pushed back on the selection, calling the Pro Bowl a joke and noting that Andrew Thomas hasn’t made one in six seasons while Sanders gained entry largely on popularity.
In eight games with seven starts, Sanders completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, threw seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and averaged 6.6 yards per attempt. Those numbers don’t neatly support a Pro Bowl bid, though Cleveland’s season-long performance helped elevate his bid in the eyes of voters and fans alike.
The debate around Sanders’s Pro Bowl status contrasts with the Browns’ achievement of earning three Pro Bowlers this year and underscores ongoing conversations about how players are selected for the game.
Overall, Sanders’s Pro Bowl nod marks a notable development for Cleveland: a late-round rookie quarterback earning postseason recognition before many expected, while the Browns showcased a trio of Pro Bowl-caliber talents this season.
