With the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon, the spotlight on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has never been brighter — or more contentious. On ESPN’s “First Take,” Shannon Sharpe delivered a fiery critique toward mock drafts projecting Sanders to slide to the New Orleans Saints at the ninth overall pick.
The Hall of Famer and outspoken analyst labeled the drop in Sanders’ draft stock as unwarranted and cited broader biases in NFL scouting.
Shannon Sharpe Pushes Back on Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Slide
After a stellar college career at Colorado, where he shattered records with his accuracy and poise under pressure, Sanders was initially projected often as a top-three pick. However, recent mock drafts, including Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest iteration, have him falling, with the longtime draft analyst linking him to the Saints at No. 9 — a scenario Sharpe finds baffling.
What’s most interesting about Kiper’s mock draft is that Kiper previously stated that Sanders would be a better quarterback than Cam Ward, who’s been the consensus No. 1 quarterback prospect.
In late January, Kiper projected Sanders to the New York Giants at the third overall pick.
Speaking on “First Take”, Sharpe questioned the logic behind the sudden shift in perception. “My question was, when he led college football in completion percentage and threw almost 40 touchdowns, over 4,000 yards, how tall was he? They make it seem like he shrunk all of a sudden. I’m trying to figure out how a guy who hasn’t played football in almost five months, how he slides down the draft board?” Sharpe countered.
"They make it seem like [Shedeur] shrunk all of a sudden." 😅 @ShannonSharpe on Shedeur Sanders falling to the Saints at No. 9 in Mel Kiper Jr.'s Mock Draft 4.0 👀 pic.twitter.com/bGzKW0NLJ8
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 8, 2025
Sharpe continued, “His offensive line was average at best. He needs to do a better job of getting rid of the football. Because he takes far too many sacks. It’s not always the offensive line. But now, all of a sudden, he’s too short; he’s too slow.”
“The fastest quarterback in the Hall of Fame is who?” Sharpe added. “When it comes to quarterback, I want to know what’s in here [points to head], and I want to know what’s in there [points to heart]. Because Joe Montana did not have a strong arm. And neither does Steve Young. And neither did Peyton Manning.”
Sanders Is Facing Slide From Public Consensus
Sharpe’s comments come amid growing speculation about Sanders’ draft fate. Reports suggest that quarterback-needy teams like the Cleveland Browns and Giants, No. 2 and 3 picks, respectively, in the current NFL Draft order, have shifted their focus to other prospects, such as Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. This has opened the door for teams further down the draft order, like the Saints, to potentially land Sanders.
Sharpe wasn’t alone in his defense of Sanders. Fellow analyst Stephen A. Smith also weighed in, highlighting the unfair scrutiny placed on Sanders compared to other quarterbacks. “This kid has done everything right on and off the field,” Smith said. “But instead of focusing on his performance under pressure or his record-breaking accuracy, they’re creating narratives to derail him.”
If Sanders does fall to New Orleans at No. 9, it could be a blessing in disguise for both parties. The Saints desperately need a long-term quarterback solution. While Derek Carr remains under center for now, he isn’t viewed as a sustainable option for the future. New head coach Kellen Moore could see Sanders as an ideal candidate to groom into a franchise cornerstone.
The Saints’ offensive setup would provide a solid foundation for Sanders’ development. With playmakers like Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara already in place and with Moore’s offensive acumen, New Orleans would offer a supportive environment for a young quarterback to thrive.
However, as some analysts have noted, starting behind Carr for a season might not align with Deion Sanders’ preference for his son to take immediate control.
Is Sanders Receiving Unfair Criticism?
Sharpe’s impassioned defense also shines a light on larger issues within NFL scouting and media narratives. The criticism surrounding Sanders — ranging from his perceived lack of arm strength to off-field distractions — has triggered discord about how players from high-profile families are evaluated. As Sharpe pointed out, much of the scrutiny appears rooted in subjective biases rather than objective analysis.
The situation also highlights how quickly draft narratives can shift based on speculation rather than performance. For Sanders, who boasts the highest career completion percentage in FBS history (71.8%), such doubts seem misplaced.
Sharpe’s fiery defense has reignited conversations about fairness and transparency in player evaluations and whether teams passing on Sanders might regret it later.
As Sharpe put it succinctly, “If you’re going to bet against this kid because of petty reasons, you better hope you don’t see him proving you wrong every Sunday.”