Analysts initially debated who would go first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. While Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are generally considered the most talented prospects, the draft order is often set by who needs a quarterback. The Tennessee Titans have the first overall pick and desperately need a quarterback.
In earlier mock drafts, quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders took turns at the top spot. However, neither participated in the NFL Combine, which seems to have marked the start of Sanders’ decline.
Shedeur Sanders Downplays Draft Order Importance
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of Sanders’ evaluation is that people just don’t know what to make of him. Recently, former NFL player turned analyst Louis Riddick said that he hopes Sanders doesn’t go in the top three, and he thinks Sanders and his camp feel the same way.
Riddick explained that there are other teams Sanders would rather go to. He added that Sanders is the kind of player who wants to collaborate rather than just be told what to do.
The usually very outspoken Sanders recently joined Kay Adams on her podcast, “Up & Adams,” where she asked him about Riddick’s comments.
“I have never spoke to Louis Riddick in my life, so I don’t know what he’s talking about,” answered a confused-looking Sanders.
Adams asked Sanders if it feels important to him to be picked first. She inquired if that is “sexy” or if there is “glamour” in being picked first, or if it is about the journey as a whole.
“I don’t care, that’s the thing,” said Sanders about being picked first overall. “I went to an HBCU coming out of high school, and here I am now. The route, I don’t care what the route is, at the end of the day, I just want the opportunity.”
Sanders has had an interesting journey, and it has been closely tied to his father, legendary cornerback Deion Sanders. Shedeur originally committed to Florida Atlantic but switched to Jackson State when his father was hired as their head coach. When Deion was hired as the head coach at Colorado, Shedeur entered the transfer portal and became a Buffalo. Deion named Shedeur the starting quarterback at both schools, which fed into one of the criticisms about him.
The fact that Shedeur has only played in college for his father has raised questions about his opportunities and stats being padded a bit to make him appear better than he is.
There have also been comments about how long Shedeur holds on to the ball, with some professional defenders even calling him out on a “tell.”
The interesting thing about the NFL Draft is that all analysts can do is make predictions. At times, what a team needs or thinks might be quite obvious, like the Titans’ need for a signal caller. However, most teams play their cards close to their chest, which is why it is impossible to accurately predict where Sanders might land.