Analysts, fans and
Shedeur Sanders himself
were all surprised that he wasn’t selected in the first round.
The former
Colorado
quarterback was, at times, projected to be drafted within the top 3 picks in the pre-draft process. That did not happen; both the
Pittsburgh Steelers
, at No. 21, and the New York Giants, who traded up to No. 25, decided to
pass on Sanders
.
Currently, Sanders stands out as one of the key players still up for grabs as we move into Day 2 of the NFL draft.
Friday evening
. However, there are not many quarterback-needy teams, so if he doesn’t get selected in the first few picks of the second round, it could be another long night for Sanders.
The Steelers, Giants, along with the
Cleveland Browns
and the
Las Vegas Raiders
All of these seem to be potential destinations for the Colorado star.
Here are some of his finest matches as per
USA TODAY Sports
.
5.
New Orleans Saints
Initially, the Saints appeared to be a potential destination in the early part of the first round with the No. 9 selection before recently.
Derek Carr injury news
In the first round, New Orleans opted for offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. over selecting a quarterback.
It would be prudent for the Saints to hold off and assess their options before selecting a quarterback, possibly until 2026, instead of choosing from the available throwers this season.
4.
New York Jets
The Jets haven’t been the primary New York squad closely associated with Sanders. The Giants hold that distinction, as they arranged an impromptu tryout with Sanders just last week. However, they eventually concluded that Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was more suitable for their needs.
The Jets’ new leadership went with the reliable choice by selecting right tackle Armand Membou in the first round. If this offensive line grows together, it could become the finest unit he has ever had on his side. This improvement would significantly benefit any young quarterback, particularly considering how often he was brought down—42 times—in 2024.
3. Las Vegas Raiders
Many think the
The Raiders might be the team.
to select Sanders Friday night. Sanders and the Raiders have been linked throughout the draft process, but after they traded for Geno Smith and signed him to an extension, the rumors cooled off.
“In Geno Smith, the Raiders have a solid, veteran quarterback from which Sanders can learn. Couple that with Pete Carroll’s desire to pound the rock and you have a good situation for Sanders to thrive in – whenever he’s handed the keys to the car.”
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
In Round 1, the Steelers were possibly the most likely team to draft Sanders, yet they opted against selecting a quarterback and chose Oregon’s Derrick Harmon instead. Among these five teams, Pittsburgh boasts the weakest group of quarterbacks, featuring just Mason Rudolph and Sylar Thompson on their current roster. Nevertheless, the Steelers lack a second-round selection and will remain off the clock until the 83rd overall pick.
Given their wide receiver duo consisting of DK Metcalf and George Pickens, along with Mason Rudolph being the primary obstacle for the top quarterback position, the Steelers appear to be an attractive option for Sanders. However, considering that Pittsburgh passed on him with the No. 21 overall pick in the first round, perhaps they aren’t as interested in him after all.
1. Cleveland Browns
Just as it stood two days ago, the Browns appear to be the most likely destination for Sanders. Given that Deshaun Watson will miss the season, Cleveland plans to go with quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. This situation presents an opportunity for Sanders to secure the starting role during training camp; however, it wouldn’t necessarily hurt for him to bide his time behind Pickett and Flacco. Additionally, the team’s coaching approach and system could align well with how Sanders likes to play.
Despite the coincidence that Kevin Stefanski and Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur previously intersected with the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland emerges as an excellent landing spot for Sanders.
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The article initially appeared on Buffalo Wire.
Leading NFL draft prospects for Shedeur Sanders following the first-round drop
