After months of anticipation and speculation, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ draft night ended with a surprise as he was not selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Shedeur Sanders, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and the son of NFL Hall of Famer and University of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, had been expected by many to hear his name called on April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Yet, as the night unfolded, Sanders was forced to wait for his potential NFL future as the draft moved into Round 2 on Friday, April 25.

For a deeper look into the reasons behind Sanders’ draft slide, keep reading.

Why Was There So Much Debate About Shedeur Sanders?

One major factor behind the attention and drama surrounding Sanders’ draft situation is, of course, his father, Deion Sanders. Deion has become a polarizing figure in college football. His flamboyant personality and high-profile coaching style have garnered both admiration and criticism. Deion has been vocal in promoting Shedeur, even making bold claims about his son’s potential.

A May 2024 post by Deion on X (formerly Twitter) predicted Shedeur would be a top 5 pick. Yet, as Thursday night’s draft proved, that was far from the case.

In the lead-up to the draft, Sanders faced criticism for his perceived cockiness. An anonymous NFL coach shared harsh remarks about Sanders, calling him “entitled,” blaming him for taking unnecessary sacks, and even accusing him of having “horrible body language.” These critiques only added fuel to the fire surrounding Sanders’ draft stock.

What Did Deion Sanders Say About Shedeur’s Draft Slide?

After Round 1 concluded, Deion Sanders turned to scripture to express his confidence in his son’s future. On April 25, he posted a message on X:

“My Bible says God uses the foolish things to confound the wise & he chose the weak things of the world that he may put to shame the strong! Please know God ain’t done & God is just really getting started. Enjoy this lesson & stop stressing. #CoachPrime.”

Shedeur Sanders’ Response to Not Getting Drafted in Round 1

After Round 1, Shedeur Sanders shared a video with his family from their Texas home, expressing his optimism despite the unexpected situation.

“We all didn’t expect this, of course,” Sanders said. “But I feel like with God, anything’s possible — everything’s possible.”

He added, “I don’t feel like this happened for no reason. All this is of course is fuel to the fire. Under no circumstance — we all know this shouldn’t have happened. But we understand, we’re on to bigger and better things. Tomorrow’s the day. We’re going to be happy regardless.”

Who Was Drafted Ahead of Shedeur Sanders?

Heading into the first round, there were several teams that seemed like logical landing spots for Sanders. Among them were the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants.

• Cleveland Browns traded down from No. 2 to No. 5 and selected Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, bypassing Sanders.

• Pittsburgh Steelers chose Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon instead of selecting a quarterback.

• New York Giants, after trading back in the first round, drafted Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25, also passing on Sanders.

What Are Analysts Saying About Shedeur Sanders?

Analysts have weighed in on why Shedeur Sanders didn’t hear his name called in Round 1. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith criticized the media for contributing to Sanders’ slide, pointing to anonymous criticisms that damaged Sanders’ image. However, Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt defended Sanders, calling out the “lazy narratives” surrounding his draft stock.

Klatt argued that much of the criticism Sanders faced was unfair, stating, “Shedeur Sanders is gonna be a good quarterback in the National Football League.”

Looking Ahead: Round 2 of the NFL Draft

Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft airs live on Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Shedeur Sanders will now wait to see where his NFL journey truly begins.