Shedeur Sanders‘ stunning fall down the draft board was quickly attributed to a questionable skill set and/or a perceived lack of maturity. ESPN’s Stephen Holder points to another concern among teams: the “circus” that would accompany a Sanders selection.
Holder is adamant that Sanders’ first-round snub was about talent, but he believes his Day 2 absence was “about something else.” The reporter references Tim Tebow‘s free agency, noting that teams were wary of the attention that naturally follows a “celebrity” athlete. Sanders obviously isn’t an exact equivalent to Tebow, but the popular Colorado star will now attract even more attention after suddenly dropping out of the first two days of the draft.
There’s been a popular sentiment today that the reward now outweighs any risk, but that would likely only apply to teams that don’t have a future answer at QB. When it comes to teams that would only consider Sanders as a backup, Holder warns that the concerns would only become “more pronounced.”
It’s still assumed that Sanders will hear his name called at some point today, although potential landing spots continue to dry up. The Giants were once a key suitor for Sanders, but the team clearly removed themselves from that sweepstakes when they traded back into the first to select Jaxson Dart. We later heard reports that a meeting between Sanders and Giants head coach Brian Daboll had not gone well, and the organization’s interest in the prospect cooled as the coaching staff became more involved in the evaluation process. Concerns about maturity appear to extend beyond the Giants.
The Browns were also mentioned as a Sanders suitor, but they used a third-round selection on Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. The Saints also seemingly confirmed a report that they wouldn’t be pursuing the Colorado product, as New Orleans used a second-round pick on Louisville’s Tyler Shough.
There is one clear QB-needy squad that could still select Sanders. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers remain an option for the prospect, as the organization is confident Sanders could serve “as a distributing point guard in its offense.” Fowler adds that the Steelers have also done extensive work on Ohio State’s Will Howard.
The Steelers are still awaiting a resolution on Aaron Rodgers, although owner Art Rooney II said last night that the veteran free agent wants to play in Pittsburgh. Even if a signing comes to fruition, the Steelers would still be a natural landing spot for rookie QBs. The team’s current QB depth consists of Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, so the front office could be seeking an upgrade for both now and the future.
Future XFL backup QB.
Dude could also be a future Pro Bowl QB for all we know. I’m hoping if maturity was/is a real issue that this helps to humble the kid and helps him have success.
Don’t count on it. The kid has an ego as inflated as his dad’s, without the talent and athleticism. He was raised poorly—not taught humility—and being made to wait or not chosen this draft will just add a chip on his shoulder to all that. while some would see it as motivation, this kid will force things and end up being a bad player.
Let’s give the kid a chance. Certainly, his daddy wasn’t that humble when playing but humility is not something you are born with. He will hopefully learn in time if giving the opportunity.
Steelers want their qb in 2026. Would sanders be okay being a backup? I look at McCord or Howard as a more willing backup, but the potential is there for sanders to be a better qb. Idk. I wasn’t in the meetings. Tough to pass on him in the 4th depending on other needs/who’s there
I agree with this..
I saw 30 seconds of the pundits talking about/showing tape of McCord and he seemed like a good bet. Could pan out, but should be a solid backup, at worst.
Clearly the league knows something, and avoided him like the plague so far. I can’t see PITTS taking him as the ego, rumored immaturity, and circus to follow wont work with Tomlin. Going from daddy coaching you your whole life to now Tomlin could be a disaster. At this point, he’s better off trying to get back in college and on another team not coached by his father.
It’s not a secret. Teams want NO part of the circus and dealing with his old man. Teams don’t want that drama. Plus his old man told the media back in Dec that his kid will not play for a small city. Prob turned some teams off.
I think the Steelers would be better off waiting until next year’s QB class. Wether it is Rodgers or Rudolph, they will have a top-ten pick next year!
I just want the steelers to not fall for this walking cancer. Tell him to freak off. Go with Rudolph. Draft someone in the next 2 rounds. I wish they would of made the same Howell trade.
It’s Deion. No one figured Shedeur was good enough to be worth the headache early, no one wants the risk of him just not playing if they take him late.
Plus, the Head Coach would have reason to be worried about Prime lobbying for their job in a year or two. Although for some teams, like the Steelers, this is probably less of a concern.
I’m seeing multiple articles where “Now it seems personal” is being quoted… Yeah, and?? If a potential employer just doesn’t like you and/or is afraid of any circus you might bring, it’s very much the potential employer’s right to NOT give you a job. Gotta be honest with the guy you see in the mirror sometimes, right??
He’s gotta go to a team with no pathway to immediate playing time minus an unforeseen injury. It would keep Deion quiet relative to the fact he has time with national media on a daily to weekly basis and if maturity is that big an issue he can develop on and off field behind the scenes. At worst the experiment fails (every team has made worse picks in round 4-5 over the years) and at best it’s maybe a trade chip for a team that wouldn’t need him long term. His best comp was Teddy Bridgewater too so a backup gig was always most likely, sorry Mel Kiper
The difference between Lavar and Deion other than one being an actual GOAT, the NBA is all about that player media stream and the NFL is not about that noise.
Seems like the Raiders, Jets and Steelers all keep daring each other to take him.
Watching the draft on ESPN and NFL network…the announcers and analysts all are the same…talking trivial crap and letting the picks be shown at the bottom of the screen. After Sanders git picked…it was a half hour talking about him. And the advertising is obnoxiously long