Shedeur Sanders will hear his name called but it’s a matter of when at the 2025 NFL Draft, beginning Thursday night in Green Bay, Wis.
One NFL insider said there’s a “very good chance” the former Colorado quarterback, who is arguably the most polarizing prospect in this year’s draft, will drop to the second round.
“He very well may not be a first-round quarterback,” CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones said Wednesday. “He may not be the second quarterback that is selected. More teams than not that I speak to tell me that they have a second-round grade on Shedeur Sanders.
“Why? He has an average relatively arm, he has average relatively athleticism … you compare it to your dad [Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders] or other fantastic quarterbacks in this draft, it’s average … Now, break it down and see where those throws are behind the line of scrimmage and you have the Heisman Trophy winner [Travis Hunter, a projected top-three pick] that you were throwing to that kind of helps things out.
“I think that there’s a very good chance that [Shedeur Sanders] is not selected on Thursday night.”
Jones added that the “logical place” for Sanders to land would be with the Steelers, who hold the No. 21 pick and are the betting favorites to land him.
Falling to Pittsburgh would be a huge shift from when Sanders was once projected to go in the top five, but there has been the most buzz about Pittsburgh leading into the draft.
Sanders seemingly hinted at the possibility of being a Steeler earlier this week.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said Wednesday if Sanders doesn’t land in Pittsburgh, then he could drop to the second round.
The Titans hold the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, followed by the Browns and Giants.
The expectation is the Titans will select Cam Ward and then both the Browns and Giants will pass on Sanders, which could have him sliding to the second round since there are few teams in the quarterback market.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, a former Giants assistant, said he feels Sanders would thrive in the spotlight in New York.
“I would take him No. 3 overall. Without a question,” Rhule told ESPN‘s Pete Thamel on Wednesday.
“I think he’s tough. You can quote me on this. This is how strong I feel. He took 12 hits against us. Twelve hits. There were seven sacks. He’s accurate, smart. Sees coverages. Can run if he has to. He’s gone to two places that haven’t won and they won.
“Here’s why – to me, he’s the guy who can handle the spotlight in New York. He’s the only person raised from (childhood) to know to handle the spotlight. Who are some of the greatest-ever QBs in NY – Broadway Joe (Namath) and Eli Manning.
“Shedeur was trained at the foot of his dad. He’s got a completely different demeanor. The spotlight there is so large. I think he’ll crush it.”
Sanders has particularly been under a microscope since February’s NFL Scouting Combine, where some said he acted “brash” and “entitled.”
His father, who coached him at Colorado for two seasons after the pair left Jackson State, said he’s being treated differently because of his last name.
Sanders had negative interviews with two teams, whose personnel didn’t hold back in NFL Network’s draft evaluation by Tom Pelissero on Tuesday.
One longtime NFL assistant coach, who called him “entitled,” said Sanders was “the worst formal interview I’ve ever been in in my life.”
Another veteran AFC executive explained that his team’s interview with Sanders “didn’t go great.”
“He wants to dictate what he’s going to do and what’s best for him. He makes you feel small,” the exec said.
Sanders has also received positive reviews from analysts, coaches and execs.
Many believe he needs to time to develop and get stronger.
Sanders was the the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year as a senior last fall, and threw a school-record 64 touchdown passes over two seasons at Colorado.
The 2025 NFL Draft begins Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET, followed by Rounds 2-3 on Friday and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday.
It will air on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.