Shedeur Sanders is currently ranked second to only Cam Ward in the upcoming draft, but at least one NFL analyst says the quarterback could easily fall to the second round.
Will Shedeur Sanders Fall To Round 2?
According to The Athletic, “It’s absolutely possible Sanders falls into the second round — his situation feels incredibly similar to what we saw with Will Levis back in 2023. Teams did not see Levis as a top-15 player, and most didn’t see him as a first-rounder.”
The article continues, “It only takes one team, of course. Sanders is likely this draft’s best QB after Cam Ward, although the gap between the two is wider than many thought it’d be when the season ended. This scenario, with a team jumping back into the end of Round 1, could be how it plays out.”
The Athletic posits a scenario that sees the New York Jets trading up to select Sanders with pick No. 28, which is plausible.
However, PFSN sees the Jets using their No. 7 overall selection on a tight end, specifically Tyler Warren out of Penn State, especially with news of Justin Fields signing with New York. Despite whether they trade up or not, Sanders is projected by most to be taken before the Jets even get on the clock.
According to PFSN, the Cleveland Browns are likely to pick up Sanders with the No. 2 pick. “If the Cleveland Browns want to cling to their hopes of winning back Myles Garrett, they need to become truly competitive.
To do that, they need a quarterback. Shedeur Sanders might not be an elevating talent, but in Kevin Stefanski’s scheme, his accuracy can go a long way.”
Of course, Myles Garrett made his choice to stay in Cleveland yesterday, so can we say that the pass rusher believes the Browns are looking to improve? And if so, does that mean taking Sanders in the first round?
Why is Sanders Falling?
Simply put, one reason may be that Sanders’ stock took a hit after certain teams didn’t like his attitude/approach to the NFL Combine.
According to PFSN, “Recent reports suggest that at least one team took issue with Sanders’ attitude and mannerisms during these interviews, potentially impacting his draft stock.”
The character accusations came after it was stated that an unnamed “QB coach who reportedly represents a team selecting inside the top seven of the 2025 NFL Draft referred to Sanders as ‘brash’ and ‘arrogant.'”
Of course, a drop could simply be a matter of QB-needy teams failing to see how Sanders fits their offense or whether all of the intangibles are there. Time will tell.