The first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft have come and gone, and Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback Shedeur Sanders is still waiting to hear his name called.
Sanders spent two seasons at Jackson State under the coaching of his father, Deion Sanders. After Deion left Jackson State to become the head coach at Colorado, Shedeur followed him and served as the starting quarterback for two additional seasons.
During those two years, Sanders excelled. He passed for 7,364 yards threw 64 touchdowns, and recorded just 13 interceptions, completing an FBS record 71.8% of his passes. His outstanding performance earned him the title of Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2024.
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders reacts against the UCLA Bruins
Most mock drafts projected Sanders to be a first-round pick, with the Pittsburgh Steelers frequently seen as a likely destination. However, the Steelers opted for Oregon Ducks defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in the first round. Then they chose Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round, passing on Sanders both times.
On his show, "The Paul Finebaum Show," ESPN's Paul Finebaum explained why he believes the Steelers continue to pass on the NFL legacy.
"To me, Pittsburgh is the most sacrosanct franchise in the NFL in terms of still adhering to the principles of yesterday," Finebaum said. "You know what I'm talking about. It's just the local ownership ... Aaron Rodgers would have never fit in with that organization. Neither would Shedeur Sanders."
Pro Football Focus predicts that Sanders' wait in the NFL Draft won't last much longer. They anticipate the Las Vegas Raiders will select him with the sixth pick in the fourth round. This offseason, the Raiders traded for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, who is on a two-year deal. Smith has thrown for over 4,000 yards in two of his last three seasons.
The reason for Sanders' draft slide is unclear. PFF noted, "Sanders may be below average in stature and arm talent compared to NFL quarterbacks, but he plays the game cleanly, takes care of the football and is tough as nails with ice in his veins under pressure." There have also been reports that Sanders may have made a negative impression on some teams during his pre-draft meetings.
Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft begins on Saturday at noon ET on ESPN and the NFL Network.
