Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Slide Explored

Matt Miller, an ESPN NFL Draft Analyst, believes Shedeur Sanders’ unexpected drop to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft can be attributed to shortcomings in the pre-draft process.

Even with a standout performance at Colorado—throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in his final season—Miller pointed to off-field issues significantly influencing his draft position.

During an interview on the Awful Announcing podcast, Miller remarked, “Everyone is humbled by the NFL,” emphasizing how teams scrutinized Sanders’ preparation for the draft.

Miller expressed, “I didn’t think they handled the process well,” referring to Sanders and his team. He noted that he faced pushback on ‘NFL Live’ regarding his views on the combine’s impact.

He suggested that Sanders should have made a better impression at the Tosei Shrine Game, mentioning a new NFL rule that requires participation in the All-Star Game after accepting an invitation, which Sanders did not adhere to.

In the 2024 Heisman poll, Sanders ranked eighth but fell to 144th overall, ending up with the Cleveland Browns, while Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel was picked two rounds earlier.

Miller remembered receiving various reactions to the video ESPN released, stating, “So, I think… was he overrated as a player? Yes, based on his talent, he wasn’t in the top tier of this draft class.”

He continued, “In the case of Sanders, there was a perception of him being a top draft choice, which influenced how he approached the process. The reality was that he wasn’t guaranteed to be among the top picks, and approaching it as if he were certainly hurt his standing.”

Adding to the complexities was feedback from an anonymous NFL source, who described Sanders as tough to engage with during interviews.

Reports indicate that Sanders felt “offended” during his visit with the Giants.

Currently, Sanders is in the QB Room alongside Gabriel, Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco, and Deshaun Watson.