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Shedeur Sanders — one of the biggest names in the 2025 NFL Draft as a polarizing prospect with a Hall of Fame father — was not selected in the first round during Thursday’s draft, sliding far down the order from where some originally projected the Colorado quarterback would be picked.
Only two QBs were selected in Round 1: Miami’s Cam Ward by the Tennessee Titans at No. 1 and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart by the New York Giants at No. 25. The New Orleans Saints, previously rumored to be targeting a quarterback and potentially Sanders, took Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. with the No. 9 pick. The quarterback-needy Pittsburgh Steelers — another potential landing spot for Sanders — went with Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon at No. 21.
“We all didn’t expect this of course but I feel like with God anything is possible, everything is possible,” said Sanders, the son of Deion Sanders, in a video posted on his father’s Instagram account after Round 1. “I don’t feel like this happened for no reason. All this is, is of course fuel to the fire. … We understand we’re on to bigger and better things. Tomorrow’s the day. We’re going to be happy regardless. Legendary.”
Various mock drafts and experts projected that Sanders would be selected in the first round, but there was no clear consensus on where he’d go. In a post-combine mock draft in March, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler projected the Steelers would select Sanders at No. 21 (other outlets like ESPN and USA Today also made that projection), but Brugler’s latest mock draft didn’t list Sanders in the first round at all, instead indicating the Steelers would take Harmon to strengthen their defensive line.
Brugler previously noted that Sanders was expected to be a “wild card” in this draft and that the QB “could go in the top six or fall out of the first round entirely — and neither outcome would be a shock.” There had been speculation that the Giants, who held a private workout with Sanders in Boulder earlier this month, would take him with the No. 3 pick (they went with edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3, then later took Dart). Pittsburgh was also widely deemed a possible landing spot for Sanders since the franchise, which entered the draft with only Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson in their QB room, has uncertainty at that position.
The 23-year-old Sanders started all four of his collegiate seasons — his first two at Jackson State and his last two at Colorado — playing for his father, who has frequently and publicly commented on his son’s draft process in recent months.
Sanders totaled 134 touchdowns and 14,347 yards during his collegiate career, including a career-high 4,134 yards, and completed 74 percent of his passes for the Buffaloes last season, which he spent playing alongside his brother Shilo and 2024 Heisman winner Travis Hunter, who the Jacksonville Jaguars selected with the No. 2 pick.
Why the slide?
The only people who seemed confident Sanders would be a top 10 selection in this draft were Sanders and his agents/PR team. He had opportunities at the Shrine Bowl and the combine to compete and prove he was ready to lead an NFL team right away next season and he opted against both — instead claiming his college tape was all NFL teams needed to see.
It wasn’t, and frankly, his approach to this pre-draft process should be a lesson in what not to do for future quarterbacks. You cannot simply declare yourself something you aren’t and hope nobody checks you on it. The reality here is that Sanders is a good football player, a quality prospect and someone who could eventually turn into a functional starter so long as he’s surrounded by talent and a strong offensive line. But the questions about his arm talent, size, pocket processing and general over-confidence were very real. — Nick Baumgardner, NFL Draft writer
Where could he land now?
Nearly every QB-needy team in the first round had interest in Sanders, but if you polled every one of them right now, you’d have gotten split decisions at best. For me, Sanders’ best-case scenario in the NFL is Bo Nix. His worst case is Kenny Pickett. That’s the reality of this situation, and despite all attempts to claim otherwise, NFL teams were not fooled. I thought Ward was a top-15 prospect in this draft and maintained for months that Sanders was closer to Dart than Ward on the overall board. That’s exactly how this has played out.
At the same time, I don’t think Sanders will have to wait long to hear his name Friday as the Cleveland Browns — who smartly moved down in the first round before taking Mason Graham — have the first pick of Day 2 at No. 33. If Cleveland passes on Sanders, look for the Las Vegas Raiders, Saints or even the New York Jets (all picking before No. 42) to have interest. — Baumgardner
(Photo: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
