Initially a contender to go No. 1 overall, Shedeur Sanders has shockingly been passed on by each of the 32 NFL teams thrice now.
While numerous reports in recent weeks have warned about the Colorado star potentially slipping out of the first round, no one anticipated Sanders falling to Day 3. What could be the potential reasons behind this? Let’s take a look.
Five Potential Reasons Behind Shedeur Sanders’ Shocking Drop In the 2025 NFL Draft
Poor First Impression and Interviews
Sanders’ draft stock began taking a hit at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis when reports came out about his “brash” and unprofessional behavior during the meetings. The New York Giants were one of the three teams heavily linked with Sanders, but according to NFL insider Todd McShay, it was Sanders’ behavior during the team meeting that put them off.
“A few months ago, the idea that Shedeur Sanders could fall out of the top 10 seemed inconceivable,” McShay wrote in the April 24 pre-draft edition of “The McShay Report”. “But with just a few hours until the draft kicks off in Green Bay, league sources I’ve spoken to are expecting him to slide. … I’ve heard from two different sources that his visit with head coach Brian Daboll did not go particularly well.”
“The friction centered on some frustration between the two regarding Sanders’ preparation of an install package,” McShay mentioned. “It seems the interview process as a whole — beginning in Indianapolis, as I reported a few days after the Combine — has negatively affected the leaguewide perception of Sanders during the lead-up to this year’s draft.”
Even the Las Vegas Raiders, whose minority owner, Tom Brady, has been a mentor of Sanders, have passed on him thrice now. So, what could be the other reasons behind this slump?
Sub-Par Athletic Traits
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons Sanders is slipping in the eyes of NFL evaluators is his athletic toolbox. While traits such as processing speed and system fit can be improved with coaching, concerns around his physical traits linger.
Sanders stands around 6-foot-2, an average for the NFL prototype at the position. In his tapes, his ability to extend plays or create outside of structure isn’t too impressive, nor is his arm strength.
Although that doesn’t mean he needs to have a rocket arm like Josh Allen or Justin Herbert. Sanders projects more in the Brock Purdy mold when it comes to physical traits. As Purdy showcased, success is still possible, but it limits what a quarterback can do when things break down around him.
Sanders Arguably Having an Average Floor With a Low Ceiling
Widely regarded as a quarterback who processes the game well, Sanders reads coverages effectively and can make tight-window throws. But the flaw lies in what he brings beyond that. Under pressure, Sanders struggled, though his 74% completion rate masks some of those problems, as he was frequently throwing behind the line of scrimmage on screen plays.
He often took unnecessary sacks by failing to get rid of the ball on his hot reads and tried to extend plays without the athletic toolkit to pull it off, exposing his physical limitations.
Sanders was still considered the second-best QB in this class due to the stability he offered compared to his peers. But for now, even 25-year-old Tyler Shough with the lowest ceiling in this class was picked ahead of him.
Rise of Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe
It seems the biggest reason the Giants passed on Sanders was because of the friction between the two. But there could also be a case that New York found a better prospect in Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart and was aggressive enough to trade back into the first round to select him.
Dart brings added value as a creator outside the pocket. Compared to Sanders, he is a more physical runner who can make plays with his legs, and while his passing game has some inconsistencies, it was not a significant drop-off from Sanders to make the Colorado QB a clear-cut favorite.
Jalen Milroe, on the other hand, is a much more limited passer, but arguably has the best raw physical tools of any quarterback in the draft. He reportedly ran a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash, making him one of the fastest players at the position entering the NFL, and he pairs that speed with a cannon for an arm, prompting the Seattle Seahawks to select him in round 3 of the draft over Sanders.
Sanders’ Personality Could Have Played A Role
Sanders’ personality has reportedly rubbed some people the wrong way throughout the pre-draft process. He admitted that during his team visits, he was interviewing executives just as much as they were interviewing him, which seemingly didn’t sit well with everyone.
“When I go visit these coaches and when I go to all these different franchises, I ask them truly what I think and how I feel,” Sanders said. “Some get offended, some like it, some don’t. [I] make some people uncomfortable, some people invite that.”
While this may have only happened with a few teams, like the Giants mentioned by Todd McShay, it’s very possible that it also put off other teams, with the Colorado star now at the risk of being undrafted on the final day of the draft as well.
