Another quarterback has come off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft, but Shedeur Sanders remains available.
After Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart were selected in the first round on Thursday, the New Orleans Saints, viewed as a potential landing spot for Sanders, picked Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough No. 40 overall in the second round on Friday.
Sanders, viewed as the No. 2 quarterback in the class by numerous NFL draft experts, remains on the board and is running out of suitors, as quarterback-needy teams are starting to fill their spots.
Sanders will likely be picked somewhere in the second and third round on Friday night, with teams deciding between Sanders, Jalen Milroe and Quinn Ewers, who are all seemingly in the same tier among teams.
Here’s why Sanders is still available midway through the second round on Friday:
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Why is Shedeur Sanders falling?
Simply put, teams felt Sanders wasn’t a first-round caliber player, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Thamel reported Friday that he spoke with numerous teams that echoed that sentiment. That, paired with 2025 being regarded as a weak quarterback class, teams likely felt they could get a better, or similar player with less draft cost.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who only have career backups Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson in their quarterback room as of now, could still be a landing spot for Sanders. The Steelers don’t have a pick until the third round, however.
The Steelers would likely be the ideal landing spot for Sanders and Co., as it’s potentially the last team where Sanders could earn a starting role for the 2025 season.
While Sanders certainly has the potential to be a top-tier quarterback in the NFL, it appears mock draft projections and organizations have had differing thoughts on the former Colorado signal caller.
“We all didn’t expect this, of course,” Sanders said after the first round in a social media video he posted. “But I feel like with God, anything is possible. Everything is possible. I don’t feel like this happened for no reason. All this, of course, is fuel to the fire. And under no circumstances, y’all know this shouldn’t have happened.
“But we understand we’re on to bigger and better things. Tomorrow’s a day. We’re going to be happy, regardless. Legendary.”
Shedeur Sanders stats
Here are Sanders’ year-by-year stats in college:
- 2021 (Jackson State): 272 of 413 passing (65.9%) for 3,231 yards with 30 touchdowns to eight interceptions; three rushing touchdowns
- 2022 (Jackson State): 341 of 483 passing (70.6%) for 3,732 yards with 40 touchdowns to six interceptions; six rushing touchdowns
- 2023 (Colorado): 298 of 430 passing (69.3%) for 3,230 yards with 27 touchdowns to three interceptions; four rushing touchdowns
- 2024 (Colorado): 353 of 477 passing (74%) for 4,134 yards with 37 touchdowns to 10 interceptions; four rushing touchdowns
