What about Shedeur Sanders, the highly coveted quarterback playing for Dad at Deion’s new program? Now, he hopes he has a better chance of having his name called in this week’s NFL draft. This year, through three rounds and 102 total picks, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders has not yet heard his name called. Likewise, few would dispute that he’s first-round talent! This rapid fall from grace has taken analysts and supporters for a loop. In hindsight, they are asking how a player of his level could go undrafted.
Having played under his father at both Jackson State and Colorado, Shedeur Sanders made a significant impact in college football. Last season, he placed eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting, introducing his talents to a national audience. As such, many draft analysts considered him a better quarterback prospect than Miami’s Cam Ward. This made him a consensus top three talent going into the draft.
While Sanders has certainly lived up to this praise, his path through the draft has been littered with twists and turns. Even the New York Giants, widely believed to be an obvious Lamar Jackson landing spot, chose Jaxson Dart over him. The Cleveland Browns had five picks in the first three rounds and they should have been, seeing as they needed a quarterback desperately. When it was their turn, they decided to take Dillon Gabriel rather than take Sanders. Even the New Orleans Saints stunned the world by skipping right over him to take Tyler Shough.
This series of decisions has made many raise an eyebrow… or two among fans and analysts. Prior to the draft, Sanders toured the Pittsburgh Steelers’ facility. This led to some excitement and discussion on how well he would mesh with the team. Yet with each round that passed, his lack of presence on competitive team rosters grew more and more puzzling.
Through his final two college seasons, the pressure was on Sanders. He was sacked 94 times, leading to questions about his preparedness for the pro game. Even if his booming personality hadn’t gotten him in trouble, his ability to perform under pressure did the rest. Overnight, he became one of the most recognizable college players in the country.
On social media, Sanders expressed gratitude amid his wait: “Thank you GOD for EVERYTHING.” This statement heartens all those who have been with him—or him—on this incredible journey every step of the way and are wishing for a speedy conclusion.
As the draft plays out it’s still anyone’s guess when or if Shedeur Sanders will be the next Sanders name to get called. Enthusiasm abounds among teams as they reset and reconsider their approaches. They are eyeing possible trades to position themselves to land a generational quarterback like Sanders.