Shedeur Sanders — the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and a prolific passer at Colorado — went undrafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, capping off a dramatic and unexpected slide that few saw coming.
Giants Pass Twice on Sanders
Perhaps most surprising was the New York Giants passing on Sanders not once, but twice. After using their original pick on linebacker Abdul Carter, the Giants traded back into the first round and selected Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart — bypassing Sanders even with a clear need at the position.
They weren’t alone. Other quarterback-needy teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, opted to go in different directions. The Steelers selected defensive lineman Derrick Harmon. The Cleveland Browns took defensive tackle Mason Graham.
Off-Field Critiques Loom Large
Sanders’s slide may have been driven as much by perception as performance. Anonymous NFL coaches and scouts raised concerns in the weeks leading up to the draft.
One assistant coach told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that Sanders is “so entitled,” “has horrible body language,” and is “not that good.” Others questioned his fit in NFL locker rooms and his ability to respond to adversity.
Elite Production Ignored?
Despite the critiques, Sanders’s on-field résumé is difficult to ignore. In 2024, he threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions over 13 games, completing 74.0% of his passes.
He set school records for passing yards, completions, attempts, touchdowns, completion percentage, and quarterback rating. Sanders also earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors and took home the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
What Comes Next?
Now, the question becomes: how far will Sanders fall? In all likelihood, he’ll go early in the second round — a mighty fall for a quarterback once projected to go in the top ten.
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