Shedeur Sanders‘ stock was a talking point throughout the opening round of the draft, and after he was not selected last night that remains the case on Friday. Uncertainty continues to loom over where the Colorado quarterback will wind up. 
The Giants succeeded in moving back into the Day 1 order after retaining the No. 3 pick. New York’s quarterback pursuit resulted in Jaxson Dart being picked 25th overall, a move which came after teams previously listed as potential Sanders suitors – including the Steelers – chose to go in a different direction. The Browns and Saints, as expected, used their top-10 selections along the line of scrimmage instead of taking a QB.
New Orleans is therefore among the hypothetical landing spots for Sanders or another Day 2 option. However, ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry reports the team should be expected to again steer clear of the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year tonight (video link). The second or third round looms as a feasible spot for a QB move to be made, but it was clear prior to the opening round New Orleans had done more work on Dart than Sanders. With the former no longer available, it will be interesting to see how the Saints proceed.
Derek Carr is set to handle starting duties on paper for 2025, the first season with Kellen Moore in place as head coach. Carr’s shoulder injury continues to cloud his availability for next year, though, with surgery looming as an option. Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener are both attached to their rookie contracts, and Rattler made six starts in 2024 while filling in for Carr. One or both of them could receive further looks, but it would come as no surprise if another option (such as Texas product Quinn Ewers) were to be added.
Provided that move does not consist of a Sanders selection, the list of suitors on that front will shrink. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones predicts a drop out of the second round will not be in store (video link), but he also confirms there is uncertainty regarding when Sanders’ name will be called. The Browns own picks 33 and 36, meaning they will have the opportunity to make him their long-term attempt to find a Deshaun Watson replacement. The Rams – who will need to identify a Matthew Stafford successor sometime soon – moved down to 46 last night, and they could be a team to watch regarding an addition under center.
Of course, Ewers, Jalen Milroe (Alabama) and Tyler Shough (Louisville) are other options on that front for teams eyeing a move tonight. Sanders may or may not go ahead of that trio, but it remains to be seen which strong suitors are targeting him. In any case, the Saints should not be counted among them.
We’ll see if this Jedi mind trick works…
“Hey league, we’re totally not interested in this guy! Nope, not at all! Not us!”
If the Browns don’t take him, I see him dropping way down. To many bad interviews hurt him. And I’m still not sure he’s that good. At least in the games I’ve watched him
As a Browns fan, I think we are out on drafting any QB now that we secured a 1st for next year. That’s a better QB class. Sanders wasn’t on our radar, Milroe was…
Bad franchises like the Browns should be in the practice of drafting a Qb every year at some point.
NFL.com’s updated mock draft has the Browns taking him…. in the 3rd round.
Whether or not you like Deion, it’s indisputable after last night that Shadeur acting like his dad hurt his draft stock. He likely can be, at least, a league average QB. But Deion was a unicorn talent and still rubbed teams and a lot of fans the wrong way. Not getting the sense that teams are in a hurry to add a diva who isn’t a generational talent.
He should go in Round 2 today, which is where he probably belongs on a pure talent basis anyway.
He sure didn’t look bothered every time the cameras were on him. Smiling, laughing, dollar signs hanging on the wall…just looked like a party. That resonates with people and definitely lines up with how randoms around the league spoke about his interviews and a sense of entitlement. He did himself ZERO favors by not working out as well. Just doesn’t seem interested in football, but just money.
entitlement or confidence
oh no he’s smiling laughing through “adversity”
and thinking about his future by creating his own brand
oh the horror such a horrible teammate athlete player
honestly. after falling into the 2nd round. ppl think they “humbled” he kid but all they probably done is put chip on his shoulder heading into the league where he’s gonna be driven to prove everyone wrong.
honestly if he wind ups in Pittsburgh, Vegas, Dallas, LA Rams he should be thankful he fell instead of winding up in CLE NYG NYJ wasting his career away.
Raiders or Jets if the Browns don’t do it.
Raiders are the only team I believe that draft Sanders. Tom Brady loves him and honestly that the best place for him…as a Browns fan, they are out on QB after adding that extra 1st next year and Milroe was the guy they seemed to want….
Browns got an extra 1st for next year with an eye on that QB class…I don’t think they are in the QB market at all now. Sanders should land in Vegas and Milroe maybe New Orleans but could fall to Pittsburgh in round 3. Shough to Rams at some point is my guess
How many times do you need to say the same thing?
Jamarcus Russell anyone n
Not even slightly similar
I think it’s pretty clear Shedeur let it be known to the Saints he didn’t want to play there. Deion himself said there were teams his son was not going to play for and I’m certain this is why some interviews went terribly. Well now Shedeur is going to pay the price for thinking he was a top 5 prospect who could dictate what team he went to.
Wouldn’t be surprised is Dallas, LA Rams, Pitt, take a chance on him to develop him into the long term answer after Prescott, Stafford, and whoever Pitt throws out there currently
We’re learning that the Donald Trump account on his Truth Social media ranted about Sanders not being drafted in the first round. Dutifully posted in all caps at 3 AM Eastern Daylight Time.
The odds on Sanders getting drafted have just gone way, way up.