Why Has Shedeur Sanders Not Been Drafted Yet? Breaking Down the NFL Draft Drama

Heading into draft season, it wasn’t crazy to think Shedeur Sanders might be one of the top quarterbacks off the board. Some even talked about him as a potential first-round pick. Fast forward to Day 3 of the NFL Draft… and Sanders is still waiting to hear his name called.

So what happened? Why has one of college football’s biggest stars slid so far? Let’s unpack the situation.

Was Shedeur Sanders Overhyped As a Prospect?

On the field, Shedeur Sanders shows flashes of real NFL talent. His deep ball is beautiful, and he’s shown calmness under pressure at Colorado.

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But scouts have pointed out some technical flaws that scared teams off from investing too early. His short and intermediate throws can come out wobbly. His arm strength is solid, but not elite. Plus, he’s not a major running threat, which limits the kind of offenses he can fit into.

In short: Sanders isn’t a bad quarterback prospect. But when you start stacking him up against other QBs in this class — guys like Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Dillon Gabriel — some teams saw more upside elsewhere, especially for the price of a second or third-round pick.

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Are Off-Field Issues Playing a Role?

Definitely — and maybe more than people realize.

While Sanders interviewed well with some teams during the pre-draft process, he apparently didn’t leave the best impression everywhere. Some front offices had concerns about his leadership style, how he’d fit into an NFL locker room, and whether the “Shedeur Sanders Brand” was bigger than the player himself.

Another major misstep? Sanders sat out practices at the East-West Shrine Bowl, which didn’t sit well with NFL evaluators who wanted to see him compete against top talent. In a league obsessed with “grinders” and “competitors,” this sent up a few red flags.

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Add in the fact that his father is NFL Hall of Famer and college coach Deion Sanders — a double-edged sword that guarantees attention (good and bad) — and some teams just weren’t willing to invite that kind of spotlight onto their roster.

Could His Fame Be Hurting His Backup Chances?

Surprisingly, yes.

In today’s NFL, most teams actually prefer their backup quarterbacks to fly under the radar. If your starter struggles, the last thing a franchise wants is a media circus chanting for the backup every week.

With Shedeur’s fame, charisma, and family legacy, he would instantly become one of the most recognizable names on the roster — even as a backup.

For stable teams with superstar quarterbacks (like the Chiefs, Ravens, or Bills), they might be able to handle that noise. But for teams with shaky QB situations? Drafting Sanders could create a public relations headache they don’t want.

What Happens Next for Sanders?

At this point, Shedeur Sanders will almost certainly get drafted — but probably much later than he or anyone around him expected.

Teams are weighing his raw potential against the baggage he might bring. They’re also thinking about the financial side: later-round picks get smaller signing bonuses and come with lower expectations. It’s possible some teams are hoping to grab him cheap and let him truly earn his spot in training camp without the pressure of a high draft status.

Could Sanders go undrafted? It’s unlikely, but not impossible. If he does, he’ll have a say in picking the best landing spot as an undrafted free agent — maybe even a better scenario for his development long-term.