Shedeur Sanders' Draft Fall Attributed to Pre-Draft Mistakes

Shedeur Sanders, once projected as a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, experienced a dramatic slide to the fifth round, which analysts attribute largely to missteps in his pre-draft process rather than his on-field performance. ESPN analyst Matt Miller and others pointed out that Sanders' decisions to skip workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine and the East-West Shrine Game, combined with not hiring an agent, raised concerns among NFL teams about his professionalism and preparation. Additionally, reports surfaced that the New York Giants set up an interview scenario with intentional errors in a mock playbook, which Sanders failed to catch, leading to a negative impression. These factors, alongside questions about whether he was overrated as a player, contributed to teams passing on him despite his strong college statistics. Ultimately, the Cleveland Browns selected Sanders with the 144th pick, sparking debate over whether his fall was justified and what it might mean for his NFL future. The consensus among analysts is that the NFL draft process can be unforgiving, humbling even highly touted prospects if teams perceive a lack of readiness or professionalism.