NFL Newcomer Shedeur Sanders Confronts Initial Challenges Following Draft Slip: Declares He Should've Been First-Round Pick
Shedeur Sanders' Unceremonious Draft Night
There was no masking the drama that unfolded during the 2025 NFL Draft for Shedeur Sanders, the polarizing college quarterback reminiscent of Johnny Manziel in 2014. Night after painful night, the NFL world, including Sanders himself and his Hall of Fame father Deion Sanders, watched on in disbelief as Sanders' potential suitors passed him by.
The Giants, a team that spent considerable time with him and had shown favoritism, added fuel to the fire by trading up to draft quarterback Jaxson Dart instead. "Built for whatever today may bring," Sanders proudly declared on Twitter early in the day.
As emotions ran high, the father-son duo stood at their draft party in Texas, facing a reality they hadn't anticipated. "We all didn't expect this, of course," Sanders said to his family and friends after going unselected. "But I feel like, with God, anything is possible. Everything is possible."
Without question, Sanders possessed strengths—toughness, accuracy, and a history of turning around losing programs at Jackson State and Colorado—but his weaknesses, including average athleticism and arm strength, were not overlooked.
What set this draft apart from others, however, was the derogatory comments attributed to unnamed NFL personnel, criticizing Sanders' character and NFL readiness. These anonymous quotes, something many prospects in Sanders' position must endure, became a hot-button issue, igniting conversations around fairness in the media.
Initially seen as a Top 10 pick, Sanders' slide was unfortunate yet somewhat inevitable. An NFL executive told The Post after the first round that it was "not surprising at all." As the Giants drafted Abdul Carter instead, the anticipation built to see where Sanders would land.
The biggest disappointments came when the Steelers and Falcons passed on Sanders in favor of defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, respectively. The Browns, with no long-term quarterback solution in sight, held two of the first four picks in the second round, potentially offering Sanders a second chance.
As Friday, the second day of the draft, approached, Sanders remained optimistic: "We're on to bigger and better things. [Friday] is the day. We're going to be happy regardless."
The unrelenting scrutiny and draft drama contributes to the typical narrative around high-profile prospects in the NFL—star power may win over hearts, but technical merit often rules the game.
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The Raiders (No. 37), Saints (No. 40), and Jets (No. 42) could provide potential landing spots for Sanders as the second day of the draft unfolds.
- The criticism and controversies surrounding Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft echoed the polarizing nature of Johnny Manziel's draft in 2014.
- The Giants' decision to trade up to draft Jaxson Dart instead of Shedeur Sanders backfired dramatically, adding fuel to the fire of debates about Sanders' NFL potential.
- Despite Sanders' average athleticism and arm strength, his toughness, accuracy, and ability to turn around losing programs could still attract NFL teams such as the Raiders, Saints, or Jets.
