When Shedeur Sanders wasn’t picked in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, some raised eyebrows — but no one was completely shocked. However, after Friday night saw three more quarterbacks selected ahead of him, the reaction across the football world turned to outright disbelief.
Sanders, the standout Colorado Buffaloes quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist, remains undrafted heading into Day 3 of the NFL Draft. After 102 prospects have already been selected, the buzz now centers around one burning question: which NFL team will finally take a chance on Sanders?
The Stunning Slide
Sanders’ fall down the draft board is being called one of the most surprising in recent memory — especially for a player widely projected as at least a Day 2 selection. Analysts and fans alike are struggling to make sense of it.
“It’s gotta be about more than football,” said ESPN’s Booger McFarland during the live NFL Draft coverage. “He’s the best pure passer in this draft. When you see developmental projects like Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel get picked ahead of him — no disrespect — it’s clear this isn’t just about what’s on tape.”
Indeed, Milroe (Seattle Seahawks), Gabriel (Cleveland Browns), and Tyler Shough (New Orleans Saints) all heard their names called Friday night, while Sanders continued to wait. Gabriel’s selection, in particular, stunned analysts since he wasn’t widely ranked among the top quarterback prospects.
Veteran ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., a longtime believer in Sanders’ talent, didn’t hold back:
“I think it’s disgusting,” Kiper said during a passionate rant. “I don’t understand what’s happening here… Somebody is going to have to explain this to me.”
Narratives Over Talent?
Joel Klatt, who covered several Colorado games for Fox Sports this past season, pointed to what he called “lazy narratives” built during the pre-draft process as a reason for Sanders’ fall.
“Shedeur represents everything wrong with the draft sometimes: anonymous sources, unfair criticisms, and false perceptions,” Klatt said during the NFL Network broadcast.
“He’s already proven he can shine under the toughest spotlight — playing for his father at a program that had been irrelevant for decades.”
Klatt emphasized that Sanders’ on-field performance warranted a much earlier selection.
“The reason he’s still available isn’t because of his play — it’s because some people didn’t ‘connect’ with him during interviews.”
Voices of Outrage
The reaction to Sanders’ shocking slide wasn’t limited to analysts. Even President Donald Trump chimed in on Truth Social:
“What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player and even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach — streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES and is set for greatness!”
Stephen A. Smith called Sanders’ continued slide “a damn disgrace,” while Broncos head coach Sean Payton, despite having already drafted Bo Nix, admitted he was stunned Sanders was still available.
Even the Colorado Buffaloes’ football account posted a 10-minute highlight reel to remind everyone of the sheer talent Sanders brings to the field.
Still Standing Strong
Despite the disappointment, Sanders showed maturity and gratitude after Round 3 concluded. Surrounded by friends, family, and his father Deion Sanders at home, Shedeur posted a simple but powerful message on X:
“Thank you GOD for EVERYTHING.”
Looking ahead to Round 4, teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers — who were rumored to have interest earlier — and the Las Vegas Raiders are seen as top potential landing spots for Sanders.
As the draft resumes, one thing is clear: whoever finally drafts Shedeur Sanders might just land the biggest steal of 2025.