Shedeur Sanders‘ NFL Draft Stock plummets, Raising Questions
Updated: April 26, 2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shedeur Sanders, once considered a potential first-round pick and even a contender to be the first quarterback selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, experienced a dramatic slide on Day 2. After two rounds and 70 picks, the former Colorado quarterback remained unselected, marking one of the most meaningful draft-day falls in recent memory.
Sanders Remains Available as Draft Enters final Day
Sanders will enter the final day of the draft, at best, as the potential sixth quarterback selected. The draft resumes Saturday at 11 a.m. CT with the fourth round.
teams Pass on Sanders in Rounds 1-3
During the first round, Miami’s Cam Ward went No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans,and Ole miss’ Jaxson Dart was selected No. 25 by the new York Giants. On Friday, teams that were speculated as possible destinations for Sanders opted for other players or different positions.
Louisville’s Tyler Shough was the first quarterback selected on Friday night, going to the New Orleans Saints with the 40th pick. The Seattle Seahawks then picked Alabama’s Jalen Milroe with the 92nd pick, and the Cleveland Browns chose Oregon’s dillon Gabriel at No. 94.
Browns, Steelers Bypass Sanders multiple Times
The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, both teams with acknowledged needs at quarterback, passed on Sanders multiple times throughout the second and third rounds. The Browns had four picks during this span, while the Steelers had five.
Social Media Reaction
As the third round neared its conclusion, Sanders posted on X, “Thank you GOD for EVERYTHING.”
Thank you GOD for EVERYTHING
— Shedeur Sanders (@shedeursanders) April 26, 2025
Changing Draft Projections foretold The Slide
Sanders’ status as a guaranteed first-round selection had become less certain in the weeks leading up to the draft.One analyst had previously projected Sanders as high as the No. 21 pick in a post-combine mock draft but later removed him from the first round entirely in his final projection.
Potential Reasons for the Slide Remain Unclear
The reasons behind Sanders’ unexpected fall are varied. The situation garnered so much attention that it even prompted a reaction from former President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account: “He should be ‘picked’ IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN.”
ESPN’s Mel Kiper, who had Sanders ranked fifth overall on his draft board (one spot ahead of Ward), expressed surprise during the ESPN2 broadcast of Rounds 2-3.
“He’s going to come in, he’ll have a chip, he’ll come in motivated, more than ever before,” Kiper said.
Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft Wait: Not a Surprise to Some
CANTON, Texas – Quarterback Shedeur Sanders experienced a longer-than-expected wait in the NFL Draft, a situation that some personnel executives and coaches around the league reportedly anticipated. Despite high expectations,Sanders was not a first-round pick.
NFL Draft Analysts Weigh In on Sanders’ Draft Position
Following the Seattle Seahawks’ decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. rather of Sanders, draft analyst Mel Kiper noted that triumphant quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins and Dak Prescott were selected in later rounds, highlighting that early draft position doesn’t guarantee NFL success. Kiper initially projected Sanders as a potential first-rounder but adjusted his expectation to the fourth round.
Pre-Draft Decisions and Evaluations Impact Sanders’ Stock
Sanders chose not to participate in the Shrine Bowl or the NFL Combine drills.While he demonstrated his ability to throw accurate deep passes at Colorado’s pro day, some evaluators observed inconsistencies on shorter routes and described his arm strength as adequate, but not exceptional. Questions also arose regarding his leadership abilities within a locker room, a crucial attribute for a potential franchise quarterback.
College Career Highlights: Jackson State and Colorado
The 23-year-old Sanders had a prominent college career, starting all four seasons, two at Jackson State and two at Colorado. He amassed a total of 134 touchdowns and 14,347 yards,including a career-best 4,134 yards in his final season,contributing significantly to Colorado’s revitalized football program. The university honored Sanders by retiring his jersey,alongside teammate Travis Hunter,who was drafted second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Sanders remains Optimistic Amidst Draft Slide
In a video posted on Instagram by his father, Deion Sanders, the Colorado coach and former NFL player, Shedeur Sanders expressed optimism about his future. “We didn’t expect this of course but I feel like with God anything is absolutely possible, everything is possible,” Sanders said from his draft watch party. “Tomorrow’s the day. We’re going to be happy regardless. legendary.”
Waiting for his NFL Prospect
Sanders now awaits his opportunity to join an NFL team, looking forward to the next phase of his football career.
Here are two PAA (People Also Ask) related questions, suitable for the provided article:
Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Day Slide: A Deep Dive
The 2025 NFL Draft has taken a surprising turn for quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Once projected as a potential first-round pick, he experienced a significant drop on Day 2, leaving many to wonder what went wrong. Let’s break down the key questions surrounding this unexpected draft day fall.
Q&A: Unpacking Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Day Slide
Q: What exactly happened to Shedeur Sanders in the draft?
A: Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback from Colorado, was not selected in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. This was a significant fall, as he was previously considered a potential first-round pick and even a candidate to be the first quarterback off the board.
Q: Who were the quarterbacks selected before Sanders?
A: In the first three rounds, several quarterbacks were drafted ahead of Sanders:
- Cam Ward (Round 1, No. 1 Tennessee titans)
- Jaxson Dart (Round 1, No. 25 New York Giants)
- Tyler Shough (Round 2,No. 40 New Orleans Saints)
- Jalen milroe (Round 3, No. 92 seattle Seahawks)
- dillon Gabriel (Round 3, No. 94 Cleveland Browns)
Q: What are some potential reasons for sanders’ draft slide?
A: Several factors may have contributed to his fall:
- Pre-Draft Decisions: sanders chose not to participate in the Shrine Bowl or the NFL Combine drills.
- Arm Strength and Accuracy: Some evaluators described his arm strength as adequate, not extraordinary. Ther were also observations of inconsistencies on shorter routes.
- Leadership Concerns: Questions arose regarding his leadership abilities.
Q: what did analysts say about Sanders’ situation?
A: Mel Kiper, initially projecting Sanders as a potential first-rounder, adjusted his expectations to the fourth round. He noted that early draft position doesn’t guarantee NFL success,citing examples like Kirk Cousins and Dak Prescott,who were selected later in the draft.
Q: What’s next for Shedeur Sanders?
A: Sanders will enter the final day of the draft hoping to be selected. He is, at best, the sixth quarterback available. He has maintained an optimistic outlook, expressing faith in his future via social media.
Q: How did Shedeur Sanders perform in college?
A: Sanders had a prosperous college career, starting all four seasons. He played two seasons at Jackson State and two at Colorado. He amassed a total of 134 touchdowns and 14,347 yards, including a career-best 4,134 yards in his final season. The University honored Sanders by retiring his jersey, alongside teammate Travis Hunter.
Q: What was the social media reaction to his draft slide?
A: Sanders posted on X, “Thank you GOD for EVERYTHING.”
Q: Did anyone else think this was going to happen?
A: While the slide was unexpected by some, the article notes that some personnel executives and coaches around the league reportedly anticipated this outcome.
Q: Where does this rank historically?
A: Since the 2000 NFL Draft, the most running backs drafted in the Top-100 overall is 11 (2008). Matt Forte, Ray Rice, Darren McFadden and Jamaal Charles were all a part of that draft [[1](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-draft-shedeur-sanders-landing-spots-will-aaron-rodgers-sign-and-the-biggest-remaining-questions/)]
Q: What can we expect on Day 3 of the Draft?
A: The fourth round begins Saturday at 11 a.m.CT, and the remaining teams will look to fill any remaining needs.It will be interesting to see where Sanders lands.
The draft is full of surprises. Keep following the draft to see what happens to Shedeur Sanders and the rest of the remaining prospects!.
