Plenty of buzz about a potential Shedeur Sanders slide circulated in the days leading up to the NFL Draft, but no one knew the degree of the wait that was ahead for the Colorado quarterback.
Sanders not only slipped out of the first round on Thursday, but he also fell out of the second round on Friday. The Browns passed on him twice, the Raiders traded down twice when they could have taken him, and the Saints selected a different quarterback entirely when they took Louisville’s Tyler Shough with the No. 40 pick.
Once considered a likely starter as a rookie, even if only because the demand for quarterbacks outweighed the supply, Sanders could now find himself as a developmental player.
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Here’s what you need to know about Sanders’ fall and who quarterback-needy teams selected over him.
Why is Shedeur Sanders falling?
Buzz had been building in the days leading up to the draft that Sanders may slide into the back half of the first round or even out of the first round altogether. Reports point to Sanders’ skillset, not any character or attitude concerns, as the primary reason.
One anonymous AFC executive recently told Fox Sports that Sanders was “not special to me,” while Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported he was “having a really hard time” finding coaches and scouts who had the Colorado star graded as a first-round prospect.
An anonymous coach also recently said Sanders delivered a bad pre-draft interview, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
While Sanders posted impressive numbers in his final season at Colorado, he took a significant number of sacks and showed very limited mobility. Many believed his arm talent and accuracy would outweigh those concerns on draft night, but instead, NFL teams had a much more tempered outlook on Sanders than most understood.
In the draft, there is often a fine line between quarterbacks considered franchise pieces and those who are not. Once Sanders slipped out of the first round and became a likely backup to start his career, some teams might have decided adding a backup with so much fanfare — along with potential meddling by his father, Deion Sanders — simply wasn’t worth the distraction.
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Who did the Browns draft?
The Browns had two of the first four picks of the second round on Friday but used those selections on non-quarterbacks, taking UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger at No. 33 overall and Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins at No. 36 overall.
The team with the top pick in the second round often dangles it for a trade, and it’s not uncommon for quarterbacks who surprisingly slide into the second round to come off the board quickly. Not only did the Browns not take Sanders, but no team was desperate enough to trade up for Sanders to convince Cleveland to move the pick.
Despite Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett being their top QB options at the moment with Deshaun Watson injured, the Browns chose to add at the linebacker and running back positions rather than bring in Sanders.
MORE: Shedeur Sanders breaks silence on draft slide
Who did the Raiders draft?
After taking RB Ashton Jeanty in the second round, the Raiders traded down twice in the second round before selecting TCU WR Jack Bech with the No. 58 pick.
Some believed Las Vegas could consider Sanders early in the second round, but he was still available when the franchise moved down to No. 48. That’s where the Raiders moved down again in a deal with the Texans.
With Geno Smith in place for 2025 and perhaps beyond, the Raiders chose to upgrade a thin wide receiver room with Bech, who brings an inspirational story to the draft after dedicating his career to his brother, Tiger, who tragically died in the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans.
