Explore the insights shared by key figures inside NFL draft war rooms regarding Shedeur Sanders, who was once projected as a first-round pick but ultimately experienced a significant draft slide to the 5th round. Despite his notable football talent and lineage as the son of Deion Sanders, some executives suggest that external factors, including his father’s involvement and flashy demeanor, may have impacted his draft position. While acknowledging Sanders’ abilities, concerns were raised about his leadership style and focus on personal branding rather than team dynamics. The sensitive nature of these discussions highlights the complexities and subjectivity inherent in the NFL draft process, raising questions about cultural biases and evaluation criteria. As Sanders prepares to join the Cleveland Browns for rookie minicamp, his unexpected draft trajectory continues to spark debate and analysis within the NFL community. The differing perspectives on his draft stock underscore the unpredictable nature of player evaluations and the various factors that can influence a team’s decision-making process.
Photos taken before the press conference introducing the Giants’ first-round draft picks showed Dart as one of five quarterbacks chosen before Shedeur Sanders. Despite Sanders being on the team’s radar, an executive clarified that they never considered him a first-round pick. On the contrary, a high-ranking executive from another AFC team, not in need of a quarterback, projected Sanders as a potential first-round selection due to the importance placed on quarterbacks. While Sanders didn’t rank in the top 32 players on their board, they saw him as a capable starter. Comparatively, another executive labeled Sanders as the second-best quarterback prospect after Cam Ward, who went No. 1 overall.
During the draft, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Dillon Gabriel were picked before Sanders. The Browns notably opted for Gabriel over Sanders. Browns’ general manager explained that the decision was based on fit. However, on the following day, he justified selecting Sanders by highlighting the value obtained by picking a quarterback at that stage in the draft.
If Sanders proves to be the solution for a team in need of a franchise quarterback, his low draft cost and salary cap impact could be a stark contrast to the huge investment made in Deshaun Watson. One AFC executive who saw potential in Sanders criticized his team’s decision not to evaluate him further, viewing him as a starter rather than a backup. On the other hand, an NFC executive harshly criticized Sanders for declining an interview with his team, citing a perceived arrogance from Sanders during the combine.
Sanders’ representatives did not provide a comment when contacted. Multiple team sources noted that Sanders seemed to have an inflated sense of his own value. Teams typically conduct brief interviews with top prospects for future reference, regardless of drafting plans. This further underscored the differing perceptions of Sanders’ value among team executives.
Sanders decided not to interview, which did not influence his assessment of the quarterback as a third or fourth-round pick. He also mentioned that Caleb Williams, the 2024 No. 1 overall pick, didn’t participate in the combine workout. Shedeur Sanders displayed humility after his draft experience, expressing his gratitude. Despite recognizing Sanders’ accuracy and toughness, the executive considered his arm strength average and questioned his progressions reading abilities. While Sanders excelled with a 74% completion rate in 2024 and threw 64 touchdown passes in two seasons at Colorado, concerns were raised about his high sack count due to lingering on targets. Non-football issues aside, talent-centric evaluations were emphasized, citing past controversial draft picks. The assessment standards are heightened for franchise quarterbacks, with comparisons made based on race. Newton’s confident statements were contrasted with Sanders’ perceived self-centered attitude, potentially affecting team dynamics. The influence of Sanders’ famous father, Deion Sanders, raised questions about the expectations placed on him as a quarterback. Despite the advantages of being raised by a successful athlete and coach, concerns lingered about Sanders’ approach and the impact on team cohesion.
Shedeur Sanders’ draft process was influenced by his Hall of Fame father, Deion Sanders, which some viewed as a setback. There were concerns that Deion’s outspoken nature could potentially harm Shedeur’s draft prospects if any challenges arose during his NFL journey. Deion had previously expressed opinions on teams he didn’t want Shedeur to play for and criticized certain teams’ drafting patterns.
However, one team executive believed that Shedeur’s draft stock took a hit due to his unconventional approach to the process. The executive suggested that Shedeur may have received misguided advice from his father and would have benefited from a traditional agent. Shedeur himself acknowledged some regrets after the draft, indicating a desire for self-improvement and reflecting on his decisions.
Despite the differing opinions on Shedeur’s handling of the draft process, some executives felt that he should distance himself from his father and carve his own path in the NFL. Shedeur’s draft slide has provided him with motivation to prove his critics wrong and succeed in the league.
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