“It's such a meritocracy”: Tom Brady throws shade at NFL draft system while defending Shedeur Sanders

NFL icon Tom Brady offered advice and encouragement to Shedeur Sanders after his fifth-round NFL Draft selection by the Cleveland Browns, drawing parallels to his own overlooked draft position. Brady emphasized that meritocracy in the NFL allows any player to succeed regardless of draft spot.Following his selection by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the NFL Draft at pick number 144, Shedeur Sanders received significant encouragement from legendary quarterback Tom Brady. Sanders' draft position, while not a complete surprise, echoes the journey of many highly successful athletes who were not initially top picks. Tom Brady himself, a seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP, was chosen much later in the 2000 Draft, as the 199th overall selection in the sixth round by the New England Patriots.Drawing upon his personal path, Brady addressed the drafting of "Coach Prime"'s son in a video shared by @bleacherreport, offering him valuable guidance. Brady stated, "Regardless of where you're picked, everyone's got the opportunity to be their best and show up, and I think the great thing about the NFL is it's such a meritocracy. If you play well, you're going to get the opportunities to get a chance to go out there on the field and play and perform well".Brady further expressed his confidence in Shedeur's future with the Cleveland Browns, affirming, "I know he'll be ready for that moment whenever it happens. I'm very excited to watch him get out there. I've known him a long time and am proud of the young man that he is. I know he'll take advantage of whatever opportunities come his way."The Cleveland Browns face a complex quarterback dilemma under head coach Kevin Stefanski. With five players vying for the starting spot and no clear frontrunner, Stefanski's decision is paramount. The competition is especially critical given last season's challenges, where star signal-caller Deshaun Watson suffered an Achilles tendon injury, sidelining him for a considerable part of the year. This situation sets the stage for a compelling battle for QB1.In week two of organized team activities, Joe Flacco, 40 years old , is making a strong push to be the starting quarterback. Kenny Pickett, 26, also aims to solidify his position as the team's long-term signal-caller. Also Read: Tom Brady panicked over Gisele Bündchen's reaction over ubderaged son’s wild night with Snoop DoggNew additions Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders have joined the quarterback competition. All are dedicated to earning the confidence of Coach Stefanski and the fanbase, striving to boost team performance and achieve success.