GREEN BAY, Wis. — The anticipation continues for Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was projected as a first-round talent but found himself still available late in the third round of the recent NFL Draft. This unexpected turn of events has become one of the most captivating narratives of the draft, even drawing commentary from notable figures like President Donald Trump.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed his disappointment that teams overlooked Sanders, praising the quarterback’s “PHENOMENAL GENES” and asserting that he is “all set for Greatness.” This sentiment was echoed widely as Sanders’ name remained unselected, even after the second round concluded, with five quarterbacks chosen ahead of him.
Over the last four seasons, Sanders showcased his talents under the guidance of his father, the Hall of Famer Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. Initially playing at Jackson State, Sanders later transferred to Colorado, where he had a standout season. He finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting last year, throwing for a school-record 4,134 yards and leading Colorado to a 9-4 record.
Despite being highly regarded by some draft analysts as a superior quarterback prospect compared to Miami’s Cam Ward, who was selected first overall by the Tennessee Titans, concerns about Sanders began to surface as the draft approached. One major issue was that he was sacked a staggering 94 times over his last two college seasons. Additionally, doubts about his arm strength and his ability to adapt to a coaching style different from his father’s raised red flags for potential NFL teams.
In a surprising twist, the New York Giants traded up to the 25th pick, momentarily sparking hope that Sanders’ wait might come to an end. However, they ultimately chose Jaxson Dart from Mississippi. The second round saw the New Orleans Saints pass on Sanders, selecting Tyler Shough instead, a 25-year-old quarterback who finished his college career at Louisville after stints at Oregon and Texas Tech. Shough was picked 40th overall.
Compounding Sanders’ situation, the Seattle Seahawks selected Jalen Milroe from Alabama in the third round with the 92nd overall pick. The Cleveland Browns soon followed, choosing Dillon Gabriel, who played at Oregon last season after stints at Central Florida and Oklahoma. This decision was particularly notable given the Browns’ pressing need for a quarterback after Deshaun Watson was sidelined with a torn Achilles tendon.
Sanders was also linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had been considered a potential landing spot. The Steelers, after visiting with Sanders before the draft, opted to select Derrick Harmon, a defensive lineman from Oregon, with their 21st overall pick. They did not have a second-round pick, and when they returned to the draft in the third round, they chose Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson with the 83rd overall pick, leaving Sanders still on the board.
Sanders chose not to attend the draft in Green Bay, instead watching the event with family in Canton, Texas. Reflecting on his experience, he stated, “We all didn’t expect this of course, but I feel like with God, anything’s possible, everything’s possible. Tomorrow’s the day. We’re going to be happy regardless.”
Another player who experienced a surprising wait was Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, who was in the green room during the first round. He was eventually selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round with the 47th overall pick. Johnson’s slide was attributed to a reported knee issue, which he addressed by stating, “It’s just frustrating. I know what I’m dealing with, and I know I’m healthy and I know how my body feels. I’m just going to go out there and show that on Sundays and show everybody what they missed out on.”
The second round featured several trades, with teams like Seattle and Miami moving up early. The Seahawks selected South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori with the 35th overall pick, while the Dolphins picked Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea at No. 37. Additionally, the Buffalo Bills moved up 16 spots to take South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders at No. 41, positioning him for immediate impact given the absence of veteran Larry Ogunjobi due to a performance-enhancing drug policy violation.
Ohio State’s dominance continued in the draft, with three more players selected in the second round, including running backs Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, along with edge rusher JT Tuimoloau, emphasizing the school’s strong presence in this year’s selections.
