Emmerson Cattich | Opinion Editor
May 16, 2025
Mel Kiper’s No. 1 quarterback, the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, and now a fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns; Shedeur Sanders’ dramatic draft-day slide stunned many. Once considered a potential top-10 pick, Sanders was passed over again and again. So, why did he fall so far?
Leading up to the draft, analysts linked Sanders to teams like the Giants at No. 3 or the Steelers at No. 21. When Pittsburgh passed and New York traded back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart instead, it became clear: something deeper was pushing Sanders down boards.
Some insiders point to the baggage that comes with his famous last name. Teams reportedly feared that the media circus surrounding Shedeur, amplified by his father’s larger-than-life persona, could distract from team culture. More concerning, however, were reports of disastrous pre-draft interviews. One executive even called his interview the worst they’d ever experienced. Skipping the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine didn’t help his case either—especially when insiders revealed it was due to the Sanders camp believing he was already a lock for the top five.
On the field, Shedeur is a mixed bag. His tape reveals a quarterback with average arm strength, limited mobility, and a tendency to hold the ball too long—resulting in one of the highest sack rates in college football. While some initially blamed Colorado’s offensive line, the issue persisted even after major upgrades. For a first-round quarterback, elite traits are a must. Sanders’s tools, though solid, just didn’t stand out enough to warrant a high pick.
Opinions remain divided. SCHS junior Drake Nelson argued, “Shedeur was a first-round pick skill-wise, and it was unfair of teams to pass on him because of his last name.” His friend, Wyatt Schollenberger, disagreed: “Shedeur was picked where he belongs. He won’t pan out in the NFL, where his dad won’t be there to coach him.”
Love him or doubt him, Shedeur Sanders’s slide is a reminder that hype doesn’t always match reality. In an era where name recognition can open doors, it’s still performance, attitude, and professionalism that earn trust in the NFL.
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