Shedeur Sanders was once projected as one of the top quarterbacks expected to go in the first round of the Draft, but his dramatic slide down the board has raised eyebrows across the league. The unexpected drop has sparked plenty of reactions throughout the NFL world — including from one of the Minnesota Vikings‘ biggest stars.
Justin Jefferson, a former first-round pick himself back in 2020, knows firsthand the significance of being selected early in the draft. The star wide receiver — and one of the cornerstone players in Kevin O’Connell’s offense — was left stunned by Sanders’ unexpected fall through the rounds.
Speaking to the media recently, Jefferson didn’t hold back his thoughts on the former Colorado Buffaloes standout. Not only did he express surprise at Sanders’ draft slide, but he also went a step further, saying he believes the QB has the kind of talent worthy of a top-10 pick.
“I think it’s crazy that he dropped that far in the draft,” Jefferson said. “I definitely don’t think he should’ve dropped that far, just watching him the previous seasons and seeing the different things that he did at Colorado. I definitely thought that he should’ve been drafted in that first, second round. I guess it’s just more fire for him and more chip on his shoulder that he can use going into the league.”
Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates his touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 22, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.
Jefferson even went as far as to suggest that the ideal landing spot for Sanders would have been Brian Daboll’s New York Giants: “New York doesn’t really have a quarterback.”
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NFL News: Kevin O’Connell sends clear message on Vikings’ starting quarterback decision between J.J. McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers
The winner of the Draft, according to Jefferson
The NFL Draft is far from just another event — it’s one of the most critical opportunities for all 32 franchises to strengthen their rosters for the future. While Justin Jefferson admits he’s not exactly a draft junkie, he believes the Vikings made a smart, forward-thinking pick this year that positions the team well for what’s ahead.
“I’m gonna say the Vikings won it,” he said. “I’m not a big fan of watching the draft, I feel like it doesn’t really matter. It all depends on who brings fire to their team and who makes the most of their opportunities.”
Here are the Vikings’ top picks from the latest NFL Draft:
- Round 1: 24th overall: OL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
- Round 3: 102nd overall: WR Tai Felton, Maryland
- Round 5: 139th overall: DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Georgia
- Round 6: 201st overall: LB Kobe King, Penn State
- Round 6: 202nd overall: TE Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh
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