Shedeur Sanders‘ dramatic fall to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft was one of the most surprising events of the weekend. Once projected as a possible top-10 pick after a record-setting season for Colorado, Sanders instead waited until pick No. 144 to hear his name called. Shedeur was a flawed prospect that was forced under the spotlight of college football because of his father. Three major flaws about Sanders that caused him to fall were his NFL unreadiness, Pre-draft process attitude, and external factors.
Despite his impressive collegiate statistics and career, NFL scouts question his overall athleticism and pocket presence. He was heavily criticized for holding onto the ball for too long, which led to him taking more sacks than any other FBS quarterback over the past two seasons. Scouts also pointed to his limited mobility and inconsistent performance, particularly under pressure. These doubts emerged on how his game would translate to the league.
Sanders’ approach to the pre-draft process reportedly hurt his stock. He chose to not participate in events such as the Senior Bowl or the Combine, missing key opportunities to showcase his skills and meet with teams. Analysts also noted that his interviews with teams were underwhelming, and there was a perception of a lack of humility, which may have turned away owners.
The 2025 draft did not feature many teams in urgent need of a starting quarterback, and some franchises were wary of the attention and “shenanigans” that might surround the Sanders family. Given his father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders‘ high profile, teams reportedly felt that the situation would cause too much chaos. Sanders and his camp were dictating teams about which franchises he would or wouldn’t play, further tanking his appeal.
Shedeur Sanders’ fall in the draft was the result of a combination of extreme flaws. Shedeur should’ve handled his pre-draft process better, professionalism is what NFL organizations look for in these young prospects. Sanders analytically was a decent prospect but he still retains constant flaws in his game that can cause him to not pan out in the league.
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