Two team general managers and a head coach were taken aback on Thursday night, as Shedeur Sanders wasn’t picked up in the NFL draft’s first round, despite having first-round evaluations for him, they shared privately. Another general manager mentioned giving Sanders a second-round ranking. All four officials have stable franchise quarterbacks and chose to speak under anonymity since Sanders remains available for selection.
Initially, the Colorado quarterback was anticipated to secure a top-five position in the early stages of the draft, with some experts ranking him even above Cam Ward, who was selected first overall by Tennessee. However, various media reports quoted unnamed sources criticizing Sanders, son of legendary Deion Sanders, in the weeks before the draft, resulting in his unexpected exclusion from the first round. The New York Giants passed by Sanders twice, at No. 3 and No. 25, instead opting to trade up for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Several teams, including the Browns, Saints, Steelers, Jets, and Raiders, have been speculated to show interest in Sanders due to their unique quarterback situations. The Cleveland Browns hold both the first and fourth picks in the second round, having recently acquired Kenny Pickett via trade and signed Joe Flacco, the 2023 AP Comeback Player of the Year. The New Orleans Saints face questions surrounding Derek Carr’s fitness following his shoulder injury.
Pittsburgh Steelers might be an ideal match for Sanders, as they await Aaron Rodgers and with coach Mike Tomlin having given favorable comments about Sanders ahead of the draft. Meanwhile, the Jets have signed Justin Fields, and the Raiders obtained Geno Smith through trade. Sanders’ connection with Tom Brady continues to keep Las Vegas in the conversation.
Deion Sanders, who trained his son during his college tenure, appeared to respond to the perceived draft overlook in a social media post. Although not naming anyone directly, he shared a message: “My bible says God uses the foolish things to confound the wise & he chose the weak things of the world that he may put to shame the strong! Please know God ain’t done & God is just really getting started. Enjoy this lesson & stop stressing.”