Shocking Potential Reasons For Shedeur Sanders' Dramatic Draft Fall Revealed

Touted as a potential first-round pick and widely seen as the second-best quarterback in this class, Sanders was expected to hear his name early — maybe as high as No. 3 to the Giants or even to the QB-hungry Steelers at No. 21. But as the picks rolled in Thursday night, Sanders remained on the board… and then continued to fall.

Shockingly, it wasn’t until the fifth round, at pick No. 144, that the Cleveland Browns finally took a swing on him. Even more surprising? The Browns had already grabbed Oregon's Dillon Gabriel 50 picks earlier. That made Sanders the sixth quarterback selected, not even the first one by his own team.

So what gives? How did a player with such pedigree and hype — the son of Deion Sanders, no less — tumble so far? That's the million-dollar question as draft analysts and fans alike try to make sense of one of the weekend's biggest draft-day shockers.

The slide down the draft board for Shedeur Sanders starts with a cold, honest look at how scouts truly viewed him as a pro prospect.

Despite putting up video game numbers over four collegiate seasons — two at Jackson State and two at Colorado — the tape didn’t quite match the hype. Sanders suited up in 50 games, threw for 14,353 yards, 134 touchdowns, and just 27 picks while completing over 70% of his passes. He even finished eighth in Heisman voting last year, though his teammate Travis Hunter stole the spotlight and the trophy, eventually going No. 2 overall to the Jaguars.

But as every draft class proves, gaudy stats alone don't guarantee early-round love. Evaluators had real reservations — and they stuck. The NFL never thought of Sanders as a first-round pick or an immediate starter based on talent or personality

The biggest knocks? He was sacked a staggering 94 times — the most in the FBS — showing a tendency to hold the ball too long. Scouts also flagged a lack of high-end athleticism and a somewhat underwhelming arm. Colorado's offense didn't help matters. With a shaky O-line and a nonexistent run game, Sanders was often forced into quick throws or off-schedule improvisation, making it tough to translate his play to the NFL level.

And when it came time to quiet the doubters during the pre-draft process, Sanders didn't exactly put his best foot forward. He passed up chances to throw in front of scouts and didn't fully capitalize on opportunities to reshape the narrative.

Former NFL player turned analyst Damien Woody, on Get Up appearance, bluntly explained that this was the NFL's way of telling Sanders that he's not that guy.

Woody said: "I think the NFL sent the message saying, 'You're not that dude.' Honestly, that's the message. The overwhelming message I saw when Shedeur slid to the fifth round, the NFL was basically saying, 'You’re not that guy. You’re good, but you're not that guy.'"

"Because I'm here to tell everyone out there who watches the NFL Draft, who loves the NFL," Woody continued. "Trust me when I tell you this, if you’re that guy, they're going to pick you in the first round. Because the NFL and all these teams are in the winning business. If you can help a team win, they are going to pick you. The NFL clearly felt that Shedeur Sanders was a good prospect, but he wasn't what the young people call, he wasn't him. Okay?"

That said, Sanders tumbling all the way to the fifth round doesn't paint the full picture.

This year, many franchises simply weren't in the market for a new starting quarterback. Teams like the Titans grabbed Cam Ward with the top pick, while the Giants already had two serviceable veterans and still spent a selection on Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss. The Browns, still financially hitched to Deshaun Watson, surprisingly doubled up at QB — picking Dillon Gabriel and then Sanders. Meanwhile, the Saints, with Derek Carr at the wheel, went with Tyler Shough, and the Steelers may be keeping a locker warm for Aaron Rodgers.

So, why did clubs bet on guys like Dart and Shough over a stat-heavy, high-profile passer like Sanders?

When you're dealing with the draft — arguably the NFL's biggest gamble — the decision-making goes beyond the stat sheet. With Sanders, it's not just about what he brings on the field. It's about everything else that comes with the package.

As former NFL QB Chris Simms put it: "There’s the human aspect of, he’s going to come in here and everybody on our team, all they’re going to be asked about is Shedeur. Nobody wants that type of distraction for a guy you know is not going to be playing for you right away. Most teams don’t want to deal with that."

NFL execs viewed Sanders as a potential backup with a starter's spotlight. And that imbalance raised red flags. The buzz, the name, the media circus — all for a guy fighting for second-string snaps? That's a tough sell in front offices where coaches' jobs are tied to QB performance.

As Woody quoted on Get Up: "Then, on top of that, you factor all the celebrity and everything that comes with Shedeur Sanders. I'm not sitting here and I'm not the guy who's downplaying, it’s the NFL who ultimately said, ‘You know what? When you combine the fact that we don’t think you are him, and you have all this celebrity and everything that comes with you, that is the ultimate recipe for why you found yourself in the fifth round.'”

What also didn't help? Sanders didn't exactly knock it out of the park during his pre-draft interviews and his decision to not to participate in drills at the NFL combine and opt out of the East-West Shrine Bowl came off less like confidence and more like cockiness.

Then came the bombshell — a report from an anonymous NFL assistant coach claiming his formal interview with Shedeur Sanders was 'the worst' he'd ever been part of. In a league where first impressions can make or break careers, that kind of feedback hits like a blindside sack.

Meanwhile, Deion Sanders wasn't doing his son any favors either. Coach Prime made it clear he wanted to steer the ship, reportedly warning teams that if the 'wrong' franchise picked his son, he’d pull an Eli Manning — a nod to the 2004 draft saga where Manning famously forced his way out of San Diego despite being picked No. 1.

At a position where franchises expect meticulous, driven, almost-obsessive leaders, Sanders left some doubts. Quarterbacks aren't just football players — they're expected to be the heartbeat of a franchise and true leaders. And whether it was fair or not, teams weren't sold that Sanders fit that mold just yet.

This wasn't the sole reason for Shedeur Sanders' slide, but it likely added fuel to the fire — he doesn't have a traditional, league-certified agent. Instead, he's guided by his Hall of Fame father, Deion Sanders. That alone doesn't spell trouble, but it does raise eyebrows in a league that leans on polished protocols and insider representation.

Now, let's be real — confidence, even bordering on arrogance, isn't a crime in pro sports. In fact, it's part of the mental armor needed to survive and thrive. Those who've suited up with Sanders haven't aired any issues about his attitude. If anything, those close to him say he's as competitive and respectful as they come.

Sure, the Sanders name brings headlines, but under the right leadership, that spotlight can be harnessed into something powerful.

Could a seasoned agent have helped Shedeur better read the draft room or buff his image a bit? Probably. But isn't it a bit rich when fans and analysts demand authenticity from athletes — then turn around and criticize them for not playing the PR game to perfection? You can't have it both ways.

Right or wrong, the buzz surrounding Shedeur Sanders painted him as a bit of a gamble — undeniably talented, sure, but potentially more flash than foundational. For NFL teams seeking instant quarterback help, the idea of added off-field buzz wasn’t exactly enticing.

But to his credit, Sanders hasn't let the narrative rattle him. When he finally faced the media after draft day, he was all class and composure: "Nothing really affected me the last couple of days. I'm favored, I'm blessed. Besides that, it's not really anything that changed. The love of the game is still the love of the game."

Rather than sulk, Sanders owned the moment, showing the kind of perspective teams quietly crave: “I know I gotta clean up some things in my game for me to be at my best, but that’s what I take each offseason one at a time and fix it.”

And just in case anyone doubted his mindset, he doubled down on loyalty to the Browns, he continued: "The main thing, I’m just proving — coach (Kevin) Stefanski and (general manager Andrew) Berry — that they are right. That’s it. They’re right about picking me. I’m a good decision."

With five quarterbacks now crowding their depth chart, the Cleveland Browns will be the ones tasked with navigating whatever ripple effects come from rolling the dice on Shedeur Sanders. He'll get a bit of a breather until training camp kicks off this summer, but don’t expect the chatter around his draft-day slide to die down anytime soon — more details are bound to trickle out. Still, at the end of the day, all that really counts is what Sanders does from here on out. The noise fades if the play delivers.