The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft took place Thursday night and former Colorado star Shedeur Sanders did not come off the board.
Sanders fell out of the first round despite being the top quarterback on ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper’s big board.
Kiper had Shedeur Sanders at No. 5 overall entering the draft, ahead of former Miami QB Cam Ward, who was selected with the top overall pick.
Former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart also came off the board before Sanders, going at No. 25 overall to the New York Giants on Thursday.
The son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2024. He completed 74 percent of his passes last year.
Here are several teams who could select Shedeur Sanders on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, which includes the second and third rounds:
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have two of the first four picks in the second round of the NFL Draft, including the first selection on Friday night. Cleveland currently has only two healthy QBs on its roster in 40-year-old Joe Flacco and former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett, who has struggled in the NFL.
Cleveland took defensive tackle Mason Graham out of Michigan in the first round. They will certainly have every opportunity to take Shedeur Sanders with one of their second-round picks.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders traded for Geno Smith this offseason, but with him being 34 years old they still need a quarterback for the future.
The Raiders have the fifth pick in the second round of the NFL Draft, and if the Browns pass on Sanders with their two early picks, perhaps Sanders goes off the board to Las Vegas. The Raiders were linked to Sanders during the pre-draft process.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are another team in need of a long-term answer at quarterback. Derek Carr has battled injuries in recent years and is continuing to deal with a shoulder issue that could keep him out for at least part of the 2025 season.
New Orleans passed on a quarterback at No. 9 overall, choosing to take Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. instead. New Orleans has the No. 8 pick in the second round and could take Sanders there.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers were viewed as a potential fit for Shedeur Sanders ahead of the draft, but they opted to go with defensive tackle Derrick Harmon out of Oregon at No. 21 overall instead.
Pittsburgh doesn’t have a second round pick as things stand, which certainly complicates matters, but they could trade into the second round to select Sanders if they view him as a quarterback of the future. It’s also possible, although probably unlikely, that Sanders slides all the way to the third round Friday night.
The Steelers have the No. 19 pick in the third round, which is No. 83 overall.
