The most talked-about prospect in this year’s NFL Draft — and arguably the hardest to project — is quarterback Shedeur Sanders. While players like Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter are getting plenty of buzz, there’s little mystery about how teams view them.
That’s not the case with Sanders. Rumors that he could slide on draft day continue to build each week. Amid all the speculation, the quarterback spoke with NFL Network and admitted that not every team has responded well to his demeanor during pre-draft interviews — and that he’s perfectly fine with that.
Shedeur Sanders Letting Teams Know Culture He Brings
Recently, Shedeur Sanders took part in a Top-30 visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers — and he came away genuinely impressed with the organization. He mentioned that after spending time with the team, he finally understood why so many people speak so highly of the franchise.
But what stood out most from Sanders’ comments was the way he’s been approaching these visits with NFL teams.
According to him, he interviews the teams just as much as they interview him — and that doesn’t always 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. Make some people uncomfortable, some people invite that.”
In some mock drafts — including the latest three-round projection from PFSN’s Reese Decker — Sanders is no longer expected to go in the first round, instead being projected as a Day 2 pick. That would’ve been unthinkable just a few months ago. At one point, the quarterback was even in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick — but that ship appears to have sailed.
Still, Sanders’ approach could end up working in his favor. Falling in the draft might land him with a more stable franchise — one that’s competitive and better positioned to develop him the right way. He’s made it clear that he wants to be himself during interviews, believing it’s important to be honest with teams about who he really is.
“They know what type of person and what type of player they’re gonna get out of me, so I just have to make sure, you know, what type of culture or what type of dynamic I’m going to have with them also,” he added.
The NFL Draft kicks off on April 24, and until then, speculation around Shedeur Sanders’ landing spot will only continue to grow. Right now, it’s looking more and more likely that he’ll fall outside the top 10 — but it may not take long before a team decides to trade up and bet on the rookie quarterback as their next long-term project.