GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders’ long wait finally has ended.

The Cleveland Browns selected the Colorado quarterback and son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders in the fifth round with the 144th overall pick in the NFL draft on Saturday. That ended a stunning fall for Sanders, the most recognizable player in this draft class after his attention-getting college career.

Draft forecasts generally rated Sanders behind only Miami’s Cam Ward — who went first overall to the Tennessee Titans — among quarterbacks in this class. Five quarterbacks were taken before him instead, with one of them going to Cleveland when the Browns picked Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the third round.

“It wasn’t necessarily the plan going into the weekend to select two quarterbacks,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said. "But you know we do believe in best player available and positional value. And you know we didn’t necessarily expect (Sanders) to be available in the fifth round.”

After such a long delay, Sanders let out his emotions once he finally got the call a couple of days later than expected.

With his brother Shilo live-streaming the proceedings on Twitch, Sanders could be seen putting on a Browns cap and performing a celebratory dance at his family's Texas home. Another video shared on X by the NFL showed Sanders jumping into a swimming pool.

“Thank you GOD,” Sanders said in an X post.

Sanders now is suddenly part of a crowded Browns quarterback room as Deshaun Watson sits out the upcoming season with a torn Achilles tendon. Sanders and Gabriel join Kenny Pickett and 40-year-old Joe Flacco.

The Browns moved up to take Sanders, trading their own fifth-round pick (No. 166 overall) and a sixth-round selection (No. 192) to Seattle in exchange for the No. 144 pick.

“Thank you (to) the Browns organization for giving me a chance," Sanders said in a video that was posted on the Browns' X account. "That’s all I need.”

The history of the draft includes plenty of stories of quarterbacks waiting much longer than expected to get drafted. Sometimes it ultimately worked out just fine for them.

Dan Marino was the sixth quarterback taken in the famous 1983 draft class and went 27th overall to Miami, where he would spend his entire Hall of Fame career. Aaron Rodgers was supposed to go among the first few picks in 2005 but went 24th to Green Bay, where he went on to win four MVP awards and a Super Bowl.

More recently, Will Levis was considered a near-certain first-round pick in 2023 but slipped into the second round before Tennessee took him at No. 33 overall.

But it’s hard to come up with a fall as steep as this one.

Sanders was one of the most recognizable names in college football the last couple of years while teaming up with 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter – taken second overall by Jacksonville – and playing for his father.

He finished eighth in the Heisman balloting last season while throwing for a school-record 4,134 yards and helping Colorado go 9-4. The Buffaloes had gone 4-8 in Sanders’ first season there in 2023 after he spent two years playing for his dad at Jackson State.

Most forecasts heading into the draft had Sanders going much sooner.

That’s now how it’s turned out.

The New York Giants traded up to get the 25th pick on Thursday but opted for Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart. Three other quarterbacks went Friday. New Orleans selected Louisville’s Tyler Shough in the second round. In the third round, Seattle chose Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Cleveland took Gabriel.

Gabriel was responsible for a Football Bowl Subdivision record 188 career total touchdowns during a six-year college career that also included stops at Central Florida and Oklahoma.

Cleveland became the first team to draft two quarterbacks in the first five rounds since 2012, when Washington took Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick and Kirk Cousins in the fourth round.

“We talk often about quarterback being the most important position in the sport,” Berry said. “We spent a lot of time with Shedeur throughout the process. He’s highly accurate, can play well from the pocket. You know, very productive college career.”

One criticism of Sanders was the fact that he was sacked 94 times the last two seasons at Colorado. Concerns also arose about his arm strength. There also were worries about how he would adapt to playing for someone other than his father.

Another potential wild card was how Sanders' outspoken father might react if he believed a team wasn't developing Shedeur effectively enough.

Deion Sanders had talked in some old interviews about having an idea where he’d want his sons to play and where he wouldn’t want them. He sometimes even invoked the name of Eli Manning, who got traded to the New York Giants during the 2004 draft after saying he didn’t want to play for the San Diego Chargers, who had selected him with the No. 1 pick that year.

Yet there also is plenty of reason to believe Sanders could succeed. Denver wasn't in need of a quarterback with Bo Nix coming off an exceptional rookie season, but Broncos coach Sean Payton offered a warning Friday as he discussed Sanders' surprising fall.

"There will be this chip on his shoulder and beware because this guy’s going to play in this league,” Payton said.

Some other familiar names also got taken Saturday.

Cam Skattebo, the versatile running back who led Arizona State to a surprising College Football Playoff appearance, went in the fourth round to the New York Giants with the 105th overall pick. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson, the 2024 Southeastern Conference offensive player of the year, went later in the fourth round to Indianapolis. Syracuse's Kyle McCord, who set an Atlantic Coast Conference single-season record by throwing for 4,779 yards last year, went to Philadelphia in the sixth round.

Seven more players from Ohio State were selected, meaning 14 players from the reigning national champions have now been drafted.

In the fourth round, linebacker Cody Simon went 115th to Arizona, safety Lathan Ransom 122nd to Carolina and edge rusher Jack Sawyer 123rd to Pittsburgh. In the fifth round, defensive tackle Ty Hamilton went to the Los Angeles Rams (No. 148), cornerback Jordan Hancock to Buffalo (170) and cornerback Denzel Burke to Arizona (174). Pittsburgh took quarterback Will Howard in the sixth round (185).

The final day of the draft also featured the trade of a quarterback, as Seattle sent Sam Howell and its fifth-round pick (No. 172 overall) to Minnesota for the Vikings’ fifth-round selection (No. 142). Seattle then used the No. 142 pick on Notre Dame defensive tackle Rylie Mills.

Jags add 'intangibly rich' players like Travis Hunter in the NFL draft to 'level up the ecosystem'

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — New Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone spent two months dropping big words and interesting catchphrases. The NFL draft provided him with a forum to better explain them.

Intangibly rich? Pure collaboration? Deeper alignment? Leveling up the ecosystem? The 34-year-old Gladstone, a wunderkind who learned from longtime Rams GM Les Snead, made a statement about how Jacksonville's new regime plans to operate with a first-time GM, a first-time head coach (Liam Coen) and a first-time executive vice president (Tony Boselli).

“We did a lot of talking up to this point and wanted to make sure that we showed through action exactly what those words mean,” Gladstone said. “This is a real visual representation of what all that means.”

The Jaguars made one of the biggest splashes of the draft by trading up three spots to select two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter at No. 2. Jacksonville gave up four picks, including their 2026 first-rounder, to pull off the move.

“For our fans, I’ll tell you, ‘Don’t be scared,’” Gladstone said. “He is somebody who is deserving of a first-round draft pick as a wide receiver, and he is worthy of a first-round draft pick as a corner.”

It was part of an overall plan to build around franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville signed speed receiver Dyami Brown in free agency and revamped Lawrence’s line by adding center Robert Hainsey, guard Patrick Mekari and backups Chuma Edoga and Fred Johnson.

But Hunter could be the ultimate game-changer. He will pair with Pro Bowl receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to potentially provide the franchise its best 1-2 punch at the position since Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. Hunter also will help the Jags rebuild one of the league’s worst secondaries.

Hunter was just the first — and arguably most important — piece. Gladstone traded up to draft guard Wyatt Milum from West Virginia in the third round, added speedy Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten, who scored 52 touchdowns in college, in the fourth, and tapped USC center Jonah Monheim in the seventh.

“You are always trying to add competition and playmakers,” Coen said. “There’s so many schemes that you can devise and execute, and ultimately when you have players that can win on their own and do something with the ball on their own, I can’t really coach that.”

Speed thrills

Tuten was the fastest running back at this year’s combine, covering the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds. He said he’s never played with anyone faster than him.

“I can go out there and outrun a lot of guys, make a couple of guys pull hamstrings and stuff like that. Just a layer of swagger that I play with. I know you can’t catch me, so I’m going to watch you try to catch me.”

Jacksonville added another speedster with Tulane’s Caleb Ransaw in the third round. Ransaw notched the third-fastest 40 time (4.33) and the fourth-highest vertical jump (40 inches) among defensive backs. He played cornerback in college but will transition to safety in the NFL.

“I’m versatile; I can play any spot,” he said.

South Bend reunion

The Jaguars selected Notre Dame’s Jack Kiser in the fourth round, adding a 24-year-old linebacker who played 70 games over six years with the Irish.

His collegiate career was so long that he played two seasons with Robert Hainsey, who signed with Jacksonville last month after four years in Tampa Bay.

“First and foremost, my routine is my routine at this point,” Kiser said. “I’ve done it, right? I’m not going to have to try to create a new concoction of what gets me ready for a game. I’ve been doing it. I trust it tremendously. The other thing: I’ve played in some big games.”

Another pass rusher, finally

Sixth-round pick Jalen McLeod from Auburn should give the Jags the third pass rusher they’ve been looking for in recent years, a guy to spell Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.

McLeod, who started at Appalachian State before transferring to Auburn in 2023, had 37 ½ tackles for loss in five collegiate seasons.

But McLeod has a more pressing priority: to meet Hunter.

“I’m happy. I’m going to be around a lot of cameras now. He’s a dog. He’s a once-in-a-generation-type player," McLeod said. "I’m definitely going to get an autograph. I know he doesn’t know who I am, but when I’m around him, I’m going to try to get an autograph or two.”

Broncos add flexibility to their roster in the NFL draft as they build around quarterback Bo Nix

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Most mock drafts had the Denver Broncos taking a running back or tight end in the first round despite coach Sean Payton's strong hints that he wasn't necessarily bent on adding an offensive playmaker right away for his young quarterback, Bo Nix.

“Let's not bypass a crystal for a blender if we need a blender,” Payton said last week, adding, “There are two great allies to help quarterback play: It’s really good defense and obviously a really good running game.”

So, Payton and general manager George Paton were overjoyed when Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron slid to them at No. 20. The Jim Thorpe award winner (who famously beat out Colorado two-way star and No. 2 overall draft pick Travis Hunter as the nation's top defensive back) is a multifaceted, multi-talented defender who is adept at playing cornerback, safety, nickelback and dime linebacker.

“We just couldn't stop watching him" during draft preparation, Paton said. “Just the instincts and participation, route awareness, zone coverage, really sticking to his man, doesn’t give up any completions. I don’t think he gave up a touchdown — we kept looking.

“Ball skills in the run game, this guy’s really good in the run game, a really good tackler, really good blitzer. He plays all over the field. This guy’s got really good football intelligence. He just kind of fits everything we’re looking for in a player. Talk about versatility, football intelligence, playmaking ability. He’s just going to add to a good defense.”

Asked where Barron would start out as a rookie, Payton demurred, saying: “The versatility was something where you don’t have to pigeonhole into one spot or another.”

Flexibility remained the objective in subsequent rounds for the Broncos, who ended an eight-year playoff drought last year behind Nix, who threw 29 touchdown passes as a rookie despite the glaring lack of a good ground game and a pass-catching tight end.

The Broncos added all-purpose UCF running back RJ Harvey in the second round and landed Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant and LSU defensive end Sai'vion Jones in the third. In the fourth round, they grabbed special teams ace Que Robinson, an edge rusher from Alabama.

In the sixth round Saturday, the Broncos picked punter Jeremy Crawshaw from Florida and Utah tight end project Caleb Lohner, who played in 153 basketball games in five seasons at BYU, Baylor and Utah and just one season of football for the Utes, where he caught just four passes last year — all for touchdowns — in a paltry 57 snaps.

Payton hopes he has another Jimmy Graham in the rough in Lohner: “If it works out like the last one did, then we' be really exited.”

Harvey didn't catch many passes at UCF, but the Broncos feel that was more a product of the offense he was in. They project him as a sure-handed target out of the backfield.

“When you look at the running skill set, it was, wow, and explosive runs, all of those things,” Payton said. “Then you begin to study the passing game stuff and he’s got soft hands. He does a lot of those things well, you could see that maybe more in the Pro Day than you do on the film, just because of the offense.”

Even Jones, at 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, provides versatility.

“He’ll play end for us, but he has flexibility down the line of scrimmage,” Paton said

The Broncos addressed their biggest needs in free agency ahead of the draft, signing safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw from the San Francisco 49ers and adding tight end Evan Engram from Jacksonville.

Holes filled?

Asked if he felt the Broncos now have enough talent at tight end and running back, Payton said, “When you ask coaches that question, the answer is we never have enough. (But) we feel we put ourselves in a good position.”

Surprise

The Broncos surprisingly selected Bryant with the 74th overall pick while there were still plenty of bigger names on the board at wide receiver. Payton explained that he saw a lot of former Saints receiver Michael Thomas in the 6-3, 200-pound pass catcher from Illinois.

“You don’t ever want to put pressure on a rookie like that, we’re just talking about traits,” Payton said. “But really explosive off the line of scrimmage, he’s very competitive, very tough.”

New tricks

Payton is known for moving up the draft board, so his GM ribbed him after Denver traded down twice in Round 2.

“I’d like to open by congratulating Sean for his first trade back since 2006,” Paton cracked.

“There were a couple of firsts," retorted Payton. “Also drafted a player from LSU, finally.”

Actually, Payton drafted a pair of Tigers among his 96 overall selections during his stint in New Orleans from 2006-21: defensive tackle Al Woods in 2010 and center Will Clapp in 2018.

Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog soaks in the moment after scoring 1st goal in nearly 3 years in Game 4

DENVER (AP) — Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog took a moment — a few even — to let the reality that he scored his first NHL goal in nearly three years sink in.

It was all so much to absorb — his teammates mobbing him on the ice, his good friend Nathan MacKinnon bear-hugging him on the bench, the crowd thunderously chanting his name.

These were all things he wasn't sure he'd ever experience again as he worked his way back from a chronically injured right knee.

“There were moments of doubt," said Landeskog, who also had an assist as the Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 4-0 on Saturday night in Game 4 to tie the first-round series. "I think it would be foolish not to take a second and enjoy it and really soak it in.

"The most reflection will probably come when it’s all said and done one day, and you understand what the journey has been like, and the ups and downs and the great days and great games and what-not. But for now, yeah, you enjoy it.”

It was almost a surreal scene when Landeskog's second-period snap shot found the back of the net after a pass from Brock Nelson. The crowd instantly erupted and Landeskog's teammates on the ice rushed over to celebrate. The Avalanche bench was elated, too, as he passed through for glove taps — and eventually that bear hug from MacKinnon.

This was Landeskog's first goal since June 20, 2022, against Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final. He helped the Avalanche hoist the Cup six days later.

The 32-year-old Landeskog was sidelined for three regular seasons. He made his return in Game 3 — some 1,032 days since his last NHL game.

“It’s amazing how quickly he’s picked up. It’s crazy, honestly. It’s beyond all of our expectations,” MacKinnon said. "I was kind of laughing in my head, but he’s like, ’I don’t think there’s a difference between a month off or three years off.' And I was thinking, like, ‘Hmm, whatever. OK.’ But he was right. It looks like he’s been out for four weeks.

“It just shows if you’re good at hockey, you’re good at hockey. He can come back and he’s one of our best players out there. It’s amazing. We missed him.”

Landeskog’s injury traces back to the 2020 “bubble” season when he was accidentally sliced above the knee by the skate of teammate Cale Makar in a playoff game against Dallas. Landeskog eventually underwent a cartilage transplant procedure on May 10, 2023, with no timetable for a return — or even if he could return.

“It was kind of more than just a playoff goal,” MacKinnon said. “I think it was a life goal. It meant a lot to all of us for him to score a goal, and then he had an assist.”

After the game, his teammates made Landeskog wear the oversized Avalanche hat, which is part of the celebration to recognize the team's top player in a win. To think, that particular celebration was his idea.

“It’s been quite entertaining seeing guys put it on and wear it and look quite silly,” said Landeskog, whose team plays Game 5 on Monday in Dallas. “And then I got to put it on and guys always joke about how big my head is, so it was quite snug on me. But it was fun to finally put it on, no doubt.’’

He remains at a loss to explain all of this.

“Every day, you’re trying to improve, no matter if that’s in the gym or on the ice or whatever," said Landeskog, who logged 14:37 of ice time Saturday and had three shots. "There’s no difference now that I’m healthy and back in the lineup.

"This morning, I woke up and it’s just no excuses. I don’t want to make this about me missing X-amount of days or whatever. It’s a huge playoff game for us, a must-win here at home and and I think our team played that way, and played real hard and real well. I think I was no different than anybody else tonight. I thought we all brought our ‘A’ game.”

Aaron Gordon's historic dunk at buzzer lifts Nuggets over Clippers 101-99 and ties series 2-2

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Gordon turned Nikola Jokic's airball into a bit of NBA history as time expired.

Gordon swarmed the glass and slammed down Jokic’s miss to lift the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Clippers 101-99 on Saturday and tie their playoff series 2-2.

“Nice pass,” Gordon said, smiling.

Jokic attempted a turnaround 3-pointer from the right side over Ivica Zubac as the clock ran down. His thoughts as he saw it was going to soar past the rim?

“This is going to be bad,” Jokic said.

A referee-initiated video review confirmed the ball left Gordon’s hands above the rim just before the buzzer sounded after the Nuggets had blown a 22-point lead.

“It was really, really close,” Jokic said.

The NBA said it was the first game-winning, buzzer-beating dunk in the playoffs since the detailed play-by-play era began in 1997-98.

“I'm glad it'll be a Nugget day, not a Clipper day,” Denver interim coach David Adelman said.

It was the Clippers' second heartbreaking loss of the series, having dropped Game 1 by two points in overtime.

“It's still a series, best-of-three,” Clippers star Kawhi Leonard said. “We'll see what happens.”

Jokic had 36 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Nuggets. Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun had 17 points apiece.

Leonard scored 24 points. Norman Powell added 22 and Zubac had 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

The Nuggets split their two games at the new Intuit Dome. Game 5 is Monday in Denver.

“This is going to be a dogfight every single game,” Powell said.

A skirmish between the teams near the end of the first half resulted in six technical fouls, including on Jokic.

The Clippers led for the first time in the game at 97-96 on Bogdan Bogdanovic’s offensive rebound and basket with 1:11 remaining.

Jokic’s free throw and basket put Denver back in front, 99-97, before Zubac tied it.

Gordan sprang for the rebound off Jokic's miss with James Harden on his back. The Nuggets appeared jubilant while the Clippers sat blankly on their bench while the referees reviewed the play.

“Gordon made a hell of a play,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.

The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 35-19 in the third to lead 85-65.

Leonard, Harden and Powell sparked the Clippers in the fourth, when they outscored Denver 34-16.

Jokic was one of three Nuggets, along with Gordon and Braun, to receive technicals for the mid-court melee with 6.6 seconds left. Harden, Powell and Kris Dunn of the Clippers got offsetting fouls after the referees decided no closed fist punches were thrown.

The confrontation riled up Clippers fans, who chanted, “Throw him out!” at Gordon, but it didn't do much for the home team. Los Angeles struggled offensively, shooting 39 of 88 and just 10 of 30 from 3-point range while trailing most of the entire game.

The Nuggets led by two at halftime before breaking the game open in the third. They outscored the Clippers 35-17 to go into the fourth ahead 85-65. Jokic had 14 points and the Nuggets hit five 3-pointers to one for the Clippers.

Denver's Russell Westbrook sat out with left foot inflammation.

Rockies lose for 13th time in 14 games, fall 6-4 to Reds as Hays homers twice

DENVER (AP) — Noel Marte hit a two-run homer, Austin Hays added a pair of solo drives and the Cincinnati Reds beat Colorado 6-4 on Saturday to send the Rockies to their 13th loss in 14 games.

Colorado lost its fifth game in a row and is 4-22, the worst 26-game start in franchise history. The Rockies have been outscored by 62 runs.

Hunter Greene (3-2) struck out eight, allowing three runs and seven hits in six innings.

Emilio Pagán got his second save of the series and seventh in eight chances. He allowed a two-out RBI double in the ninth to Adael Amador on a ball that skipped past center fielder TJ Friedl, then struck out Brenton Doyle.

Friedl had three hits for the Reds, who have won three in a row after losing five of seven. Marte has 12 hits and 12 RBIs in 27 at-bats since April 20.

Michael Toglia and Amador homered for Colorado. It was the first big league homer for the 22-year-old Amador, who had three hits and two RBIs.

Antonio Senzatela (1-4) gave up four runs and eight hits in five five innings. Senzatela has given up a big league-high 50 hits this season.

Key moment

Hays’ second home run of the day, a 429-foot solo shot in the sixth, broke a 3-3 tie.

Key stat

Hays is hitting .386 since making his Reds debut on April 15.

Up next

Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-1, 3.86 ERA) and Reds LHP Nick Lodolo (2-2, 2.79) start Sunday.