The final day of the NFL draft holds promise, with several talented prospects, including Shedeur Sanders, still awaiting selection. Sanders remains a notable omission, having yet to be picked despite widespread expectations of his early selection. This absence represents a stark fall for the quarterback, who has been overlooked through 102 picks so far.
Before Day 2 of the draft commenced, Sanders’ unanticipated decline caught attention at a national level, even reaching the White House. On Friday, Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform, voicing criticism towards NFL teams for bypassing Sanders on the first day and recommending his immediate selection in the second round. Despite these remarks, NFL teams continued to choose another 70 players from college, leaving Sanders still awaiting that all-important call.
Heading into this year’s draft, Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward from Miami were seen as the leading quarterback prospects by many. Some analysts, in fact, considered Sanders the superior player compared to Ward, who was selected first overall by the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night. Meanwhile, four quarterbacks have already been picked before Sanders. Notably, the New York Giants selected Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss in a surprise first-round pick, and the New Orleans Saints took Tyler Shough from Louisville during the second round. Round three saw Alabama’s Jalen Milroe head to the Seahawks, and Dillon Gabriel from Oregon go to the Browns.
Sanders might not be the first Sanders selected this year, as South Carolina’s defensive tackle T.J. Sanders was chosen 41st overall by Buffalo in the second round. One factor speculated to contribute to Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide is his height. Standing at 6-foot-1, he is considered short for a modern quarterback. Yet, Dillon Gabriel was chosen despite being even shorter at 5-foot-11. Sanders is recognized for his accuracy and quick decision-making, though his susceptibility to sacks—94 in the past two seasons in Boulder—may also play a role.
The Denver Broncos, not needing a quarterback after securing one last year, aren’t in the running for Sanders. Still, their coach, Sean Payton, expressed surprise at Sanders’ fall to Day 3. “There will be this chip on his shoulder, and beware because this guy’s going to play in this league,” Payton remarked.
Among draft analysts, Shedeur Sanders is still a highly-ranked choice. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah rates him as the 20th best prospect, while ESPN writer Jeff Legwold placed him 32nd in his top 100 rankings. Despite noting Sanders’ FBS career record 72% completion rate at Colorado, Legwold pointed out concerns regarding his size and quick release as possible reasons for his draft drop.
As Day 3 of the draft begins with the Titans holding the 103rd overall pick, other notable prospects include Tennessee’s 5-foot-8 running back Dylan Sampson, who set a school record with 22 touchdowns last year, and Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo, who ran for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns. Additional talents likely to attract interest in the fourth round include LSU guard Miles Frazier, Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer, and Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton.