NFL draft teams faced unexpected responses from Shedeur Sanders during interviews with organizations he held a dislike for, reportedly delivering unenthusiastic performance or even feigning indifference.
A Wild Ride:
Shedeur Sanders' journey in the NFL draft was a rollercoaster, filled with missteps that seemed to come back to bite him. From CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, it was claimed that Sanders intentionally bombed interviews with some teams he wasn't keen on joining.
Jones revealed, "In some team meetings at the combine, I was told that he more or less sandbagged in those interviews. I don't know if he didn't take them seriously, what it was, but he didn't give it his all in some of those interviews, rubbing some teams the wrong way."
His father, Deion Sanders, echoed similar thoughts a year prior. In March 2025, he stated his preferences for teams his sons Shedeur and Shilo would join. Teams like the Giants, Saints, Steelers, and Raiders, who were potential suitors, overlooked Sanders in the first round. Then the second. And the third. And the fourth.
Sanders didn't get picked until the fifth round, in a twist that saw him join the Cleveland Browns as the sixth quarterback off the board. The Browns had already picked the less-hyped quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round, making Sanders' selection seem questionable.
It's not hard to argue that Sanders was probably ranked higher as a quarterback than Gabriel, and most quarterbacks drafted ahead of him, aside from Cam Ward. Yet, Sanders' baggage weighed him down.
Jones commented, "Shedeur Sanders was clearly talented enough to be selected in the top five when it comes to quarterbacks. The difference here is how he and those around him handled the draft process."
The poor handling continued beyond the interviews. According to Jones, Sanders' pro day was merely average, and his premature jersey retirement at Colorado, a rarity in major college football, raised eyebrows among teams. "All of these things began to add up for teams," Jones added.
In the eyes of many teams, Sanders wasn't worth the trouble. His stormy draft process serves as a lesson for those coming after him, setting a clear message: professional conduct matters.
Jones concluded, "This is clearly a way for the NFL and its teams to let him and anyone else after him know: you can't comport yourself in this way moving forward."
What are your thoughts? Fire away with your comments.
Sanders' surprising slide in the draft will go down in history, as a cautionary tale for those aspiring to follow in his footsteps.
- Perhaps Shedeur Sanders' intentional mismatched interviews and unconventional actions, such as his premature jersey retirement, may have contributed to his unexpected descent in the NFL draft.
- Sanders' experiences during the draft process, marked by questionable behavior, serve as a reminder for future athletes that professional conduct plays a crucial role in sports, especially in the highly competitive realm of football.
- The Browns' selection of Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round, despite his clear talent, suggests that NFL teams are now more stringent in evaluating draft prospects, focusing not only on athletic ability but also on comportment and handling of the draft process.
