Once projected as a potential first-round pick, Sanders fell all the way to 144th overall, landing with the Browns on Day 3. That slide cost him millions, but he isn’t bitter. Instead, he’s leaning into the moment with self-awareness and a sense of humor. “I’m not trying to buy anything. My signing bonus ain’t that high right now,” he joked with reporters, drawing a few laughs and showing a level of maturity that’s hard to fake.

Despite the media scrutiny and whispers about poor pre-draft interviews, Sanders found encouragement from a few very prominent names. One was Tom Brady, a future Hall of Famer who knows a thing or two about being overlooked in the draft. “My story’s going to be similar,” Sanders said, recalling Brady’s message to him. “[Brady] was a late-round draft pick, but we’re here now, so none of that stuff matters.”

Another surprising supporter? President Donald Trump, who publicly urged teams to draft Sanders before the draft. Asked about it, Sanders didn’t shy away. “I was pretty thankful for it,” he said. “Including him, there were a lot of fans, people in barber shops, lotta hair stylists, just fans of me and my craft and of my family, that was there to support.”

That kind of backing seems to have helped Sanders maintain perspective, even amid what some called a humiliating draft-day fall. At just 23, he’s showing signs that the spotlight doesn’t shake him. “My job isn’t to prove people wrong, it’s to prove myself right,” he said.