Shedeur Sanders falling to Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft is one of the wildest draft storylines in recent memory. Sanders was initially touted to be the second-best quarterback of this class and many expected him to be the second quarterback off the board after Cam Ward.
While there had been talk of Sanders’ draft stock sliding down to the late first round, hardly anyone expected him to slide into the fourth round.
Many people from around the NFL have chimed in on Sanders’ freefall. Arguably the most interesting statement of all came from Dallas Cowboys owner and decades-old friend of Deion Sanders, Jerry Jones.
Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Continues Vouching for Shedeur Sanders
Even before Sanders made official visits, he had an unofficial meeting with Jones at a basketball game. That was the first time the rumors of Sanders going to the Cowboys gained traction. Jones was shocked that Sanders wasn’t picked on Day 2 of the draft.
“We thought and evaluated him extremely high in this draft. I have an edge, I know what winner he has in his bloodline,” Jones said of Sanders.
The Cowboys’ owner further advocated for Sanders’s strong character since the QB has been labeled “arrogant” and “brash” after his pre-draft interviews.
“Consequently, with my firsthand knowledge with my relationship with Deion over the years, and I watched two or three ballgames with his son, I know where the character is there. And it is great character. If calls come my way, they will get firsthand knowledge of my life with him over the last 20 years. I’m a big person about the character of the Sanders family. It as an unbelievable character for winning in sports,” Jones said.
Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones on Shedeur Sanders still being available going into day three:
“We thought and evaluated him extremely high in this draft. We obviously have Dak as the highest-paid player in the league. I have an edge, I know what winner he has in his bloodline.…
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) April 26, 2025
Jones clarified that Dallas likely won’t pick Shedeur since they already have Dak Prescott, and he’s the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. The 2025 season will mark the second year of Prescott’s four-year, $240 million contract with an average annual value of $60 million.
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“We obviously have Dak as the highest-paid player in the league,” Jones said. The Cowboys may not be a quarterback-needy team this season, but plenty of others are.
So far, five quarterbacks have been selected in the 2025 NFL Draft: Cam Ward at No. 1 overall (Titans), Jaxson Dart at No. 25 (Giants), Tyler Shough at No. 40 (Saints), Jalen Milroe at No. 92 (Seahawks), and Dillon Gabriel at No. 94 (Browns).
Sanders is easily the best available quarterback entering Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Possible Landing Spots For Sanders
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are the only team remaining in the draft with a clear need at quarterback. Sanders visited the Steelers during his pre-draft visits, and many reports had Pittsburgh at No. 21 as the furthest the quarterback would fall. However, the Steelers picked Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, and Sanders continued to fall.
Pittsburgh is still looking for a QB. With Mason Rudolph brought back in free agency, and Aaron Rodgers still a possibility, Sanders could be the long-term quarterback the organization desperately needs. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Sanders “remains an option” for Pittsburgh even though the team didn’t draft him in the third round.
The Steelers are picking 123rd overall in the fourth round, and given Sanders’ free fall so far, he is likely to be available by then. If Pittsburgh selects him, Sanders would walk into a stable organization, giving them both a starter and a potential franchise quarterback.
Las Vegas Raiders
With a new minority owner in Tom Brady and a new head coach in Pete Carroll, the Las Vegas Raiders want to build an instant playoff contender. Bringing in Geno Smith off his career-best season in which he recorded 4,320 passing yards (fourth in the league) and led the Seattle Seahawks to a 10-7 finish, gives Vegas a solid veteran for the job.
But if the Raiders are thinking long-term, finding Smith’s successor might be the smart move, and it would be cheaper on Day 3. Las Vegas picked up Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick and used their second and third round picks on a guard and WR, respectively. Pairing them with Sanders could be the start of long-term success for the Raiders.
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford returns to the Los Angeles Rams after a weird beginning to the offseason. The team permitted him to find a trade, which would have reportedly netted the Rams over $45 million in dead money.
The two sides eventually agreed to a new contract and Stafford is back in Los Angeles, but he’s not a long-term solution since he’s 37 years old and on a year-to-year basis.
Because of this, there has been some buzz that the Rams could look to draft Stafford’s successor in 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders could be that guy.
Los Angeles is another potential landing spot where he wouldn’t have to start right away, and his draft-day fall could actually be for the best if it allows him to play for an offensive mastermind like Sean McVay in a huge market like L.A.