Although analysts have said since at least this past winter that none of the quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft class would be ranked above the six who went in the first round last year, Shedeur Sanders’ perceived drop in draft stock reportedly started when he “hit the wrong notes” in some interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine.
For a lengthy piece published on Wednesday, ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler explained how Sanders was among prospects who completed a short interview with National Football Scouting, the company that runs the combine. During that conversation, Sanders addressed the pressure he dealt with due to having Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders as both a father and a head coach at Colorado.
“I feel like nothing can faze me mentally, because I’ve been in the most high-pressure situation that there is to be known,” Shedeur Sanders reportedly said. “That’s the edge I have over any other player, because they haven’t dealt with expectation immediately. See, a lot of people got to grow their name, and they had to build their name. They were nobody, then became someone. Being the son of my dad, you somebody [from the beginning]. …Pressure-wise, expectation-wise, I always had it my whole life. So, going to an NFL franchise is not going to change anything for me. It’s just another day in the life.”
As recently as Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested that Shedeur lacks the “special talent” teams want from somebody “with his personality.” Shedeur did little to silence such chatter when he lacked “elite” traits during his pro day workout earlier this month, and the perception now exists that some teams/coaches would rather have Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart and Louisville’s Tyler Shough instead of Shedeur.
During an NFL Network appearance on April 10, Shedeur showed no remorse for his conduct throughout the draft process. It remains to be seen if his comments during chats from the combine and private workouts with teams did him more harm than good.
“I know I’m the most guaranteed risk you can take,” Shedeur added during the National Football Scouting interview. “I know I’ve done it, so I know what it looks like, back-to-back, over and over. I’ve been in situations where I know I had to change my playing style to adapt. I had six different offensive coordinators, I’m able to adapt to each one, and the production always went up. It never went down. Other guys may not be in that type of situation. I was in a lot of uncomfortable situations and with the high pressure. In my mind, there’s no doubt who the best quarterback is and why you should draft me, because I know I’ve been through everything that you’re going to go through.”
Most observers and reporters view Miami’s Cam Ward as the undisputed top quarterback in this year’s class, but ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. thinks Shedeur should be the draft’s QB1. As of April 16, it seemed that Sanders could be selected as early as No. 3 by the New York Giants and as late as by the Pittsburgh Steelers at the 21st choice.
Whatever team picks him had better be prepared to have quite the confident rookie in its quarterback room.
