Shedeur Sanders may have experienced one of the most dramatic drops in the history of the NFL Draft. He was expected to be a first-round pick, but no club selected him, and now Sean Payton, head coach of the Denver Broncos, has warned the league about the mistake of not picking him early.
In recent months, many scouts had Shedeur Sanders ranked as the second-best quarterback in this class, just behind Cam Ward. As expected, the former Florida standout was selected No. 1 overall, but Sanders was widely expected to be the next signal-caller off the board.
Time went by, and no club picked the former Buffaloes star. Many expected the Browns or Steelers to select him early, but neither club did so, and Sean Payton believes they made a huge mistake.
Sean Payton sends clear message to Browns, Steelers after passing on Shedeur Sanders
Last year, the Broncos selected Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick. The AFC West club does not currently need a quarterback, as the former Oregon standout is poised to become the franchise signal-caller they have long been waiting for.
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Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped Sean Payton from evaluating the next generation of quarterbacks. In the 2025 NFL Draft, many teams were in desperate need of a new signal-caller, and for many scouts, Shedeur Sanders was among the best options available.
Although Shedeur Sanders was regarded as the second-best quarterback in the class, things took a wrong turn for him. After four rounds, no club had selected him, marking one of the most stunning falls for a top prospect in NFL history.
Initially, Shedeur Sanders was heavily linked to the Browns and Steelers, who were reportedly interested in selecting him in the early rounds. However, Cleveland opted to draft Dillon Gabriel in the third round, while Pittsburgh didn’t pick a quarterback in the first four rounds.
Shedeur Sanders, former quarterback of the Colorado Buffaloes
While some may believe Shedeur Sanders isn’t ready for the NFL, Sean Payton sees it differently. The Broncos’ head coach believes every team made a major mistake by passing on the former Buffaloes standout, throwing a bit of shade at the Browns and Steelers.
“We sat there, I watched right behind him throwing. … He had an outstanding pro day,” Payton said Friday night to Broncos reporters. “This thing is surprising. … I think we all are surprised, and yet the talent — holy cow (it’s there).
“There’ll be this chip on his shoulder, and beware, because this guy is going to play in this league.”
Why did no team draft Shedeur Sanders in the early rounds?
There may not be a bigger draft-day fall in NFL history than Shedeur Sanders’. According to scouts, he was the second-best quarterback available and the 34th overall ranked prospect this year.
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While his talent is undeniable, concerns about his attitude may have scared teams off. Reports suggest his interviews with clubs didn’t go well, and many organizations believe he isn’t ready to step in as a starting quarterback anytime soon.
