Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has had one of the most fluctuating draft evaluations in the entire 2025 NFL Draft process. Once projected as a potential No. 1 overall pick by the Tennessee Titans, Sanders has seen his stock steadily decline over the past several weeks, leading us to a much different picture on the day of the first round.
An NFL insider weighed in on what might be causing such a wide range of opinions on Sanders, suggesting that the inconsistencies in how teams view him could even result in the quarterback slipping to the second round.
Shedeur Sanders Could Possibly Slip in 2025 NFL Draft
After more than a month of nonstop speculation, the first round of the NFL Draft kicks off this Thursday in Green Bay, where the fate of 32 prospects will be decided. But that may not be the case for Sanders, the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders.
According to NFL insider Jonathan Jones, there’s a real possibility that Sanders could go unselected in the first round, as most teams reportedly have a second-round grade on the Colorado quarterback.
“I think that there’s a very good chance that [Shedeur Sanders] is not selected on Thursday night.”@jjones9 gives the latest on what he’s hearing around the league on Shedeur Sanders, heading into draft night. pic.twitter.com/YAu75vEGNC
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) April 23, 2025
“He could go out of the first round, he very well may not be a first-round quarterback. He may not be the second quarterback that is selected. Different teams have different valuations on him. More teams than not that I speak to tell me that they have a second-round grade on Shedeur Sanders,” Jones said.
There’s real buzz around the possibility of Jaxson Dart — the Ole Miss quarterback — being selected ahead of Sanders. Some even suggest Alabama’s Jalen Milroe could sneak into the end of the first round, though that scenario seems less likely.
What makes Sanders’ evaluation so complex is the lack of elite physical tools and the need for context behind some of his most eye-catching stats, such as his completion percentage. According to Jones, this nuance played a significant role in how teams finalized their draft grades for the Colorado quarterback.
“He has an average, relatively [strong] arm. He has average, relatively [good] athleticism. You’re talking about getting drafted in the first or second day of the NFL Draft, you are an incredible athlete. You compare it to your dad or you compare it to other fantastic quarterbacks in this draft, it’s average.”
Jones (and fellow insider Todd McShay) mentioned one last glimmer of hope for Sanders to still hear his name called on Day 1 — a team that could be the right fit to develop his skill set and maximize his potential at the next level.
“And so I think that there is a very good chance that he is not selected on Thursday night. I think the logical place he goes is 21 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but if he doesn’t and a team does not trade up for him back into the first round of the draft, he will be waiting to hear his name called until Friday.”
The latest 3-round mock draft from PFSN has Sanders going to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st overall pick. If that ends up being his landing spot, Sanders would have the chance to develop under head coach Mike Tomlin, a strong foundation for becoming a solid NFL quarterback in the years ahead.