Reactions to Shedeur Sanders’s dramatic slide in the 2025 NFL Draft have been rippling through the league for days. Most players are surprised not just at Sanders dropping out of the first round, but also because he fell all the way to the fifth round, which was unimaginable to most before draft day.
Justin Jefferson Thinks Shedeur Sanders Should Have Been Drafted Higher
Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson has publicly expressed his disbelief over quarterback Shedeur Sanders’s unexpected slide to the fifth round in the 2025 NFL Draft. In an interview at the Miami Grand Prix, Jefferson stated, “I think it’s crazy that he went (in the fifth round), that he dropped that far in the draft.”
“Just watching him in the previous seasons and seeing the different things he did at, you know, Colorado. I definitely thought that he should have been drafted in the first or second round,” Jefferson said. “I guess it’s just more fire for him and more chip on his shoulder that he can use going into the league.”
#vikings Wr Justin Jefferson shares his thoughts on shedeur sanders draft slide ..
One of many NFL players that have showed shedeur support 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/iuJ5mTwiGA
— Dalvinthetruth (@dalvinthetruth)
When asked where he thinks Sanders should have gone, the Minnesota starter said, “I mean, New York doesn’t really have a quarterback. Steelers. Cleveland definitely does need a quarterback, also.”
Other NFL figures have echoed Jefferson’s sentiments. New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers criticized the league for seemingly judging Sanders based on his off-field behavior and who his father was. Nabers highlighted Sanders’s on-field achievements, including being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and throwing a school-record 64 touchdown passes at Colorado, to argue that he deserved to be selected much earlier.
Former NFL safety, and analyst, Ryan Clark praised Sanders’s composure during the draft process, stating that despite valid questions about his physical talent, Sanders’s game tape does not reflect a fifth-round talent. Clark emphasized that Sanders’s humility and grace during the draft weekend were commendable. Sanders has since been praised for saying and doing all of the right things, including speaking at a Cleveland high school.
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Additionally, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce criticized an anonymous NFL coach who reportedly labeled Sanders’s interview as the “worst formal interview” and questioned his attitude and gameplay. Kelce stated that he felt the anonymous remarks were invalid and urged the coach to reveal their identity, arguing that players should be judged primarily for on-field performances.
Despite the criticisms and unexpected draft slide, Sanders has received support from various corners of the NFL community. Many believe that he will use this experience as motivation to succeed at the professional level.
