NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The opening round of the 2025 NFL draft brought its reasonable proportion of surprises, but the Sanders Sanders’ plum was arguably the most significant event at night.
On Friday, Sanders Saga transformed from surprising to effectively inexplicable.
Each team, including the franchises who entered this year’s draft questioning the Quarterback position, went on to choose the former Colorado -Quarterback in the first, second or third round. Since Thursday, many figures in the sports world and over have shared thoughts on why Sanders fell down draft boards.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover at Foxnews.com
Shedeur Sanders looks at his Jersey pension ceremony under Colorado’s NCAA College Football Spring Game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
ESPNS Pete Thamel is among this group. According to Thamel’s conversations with several teams, Sanders’ free fall could largely be attributed to the evaluation of his talent.
Get Full 2025 NFL draft coverage with real-time choices, expert analysis and can’t miss moments
“I was talking to about half a dozen teams today … They just thought he wasn’t a talent in the first round and a first round player,” Thamel said Friday.
Pete Thamel participates in the 11th annual Allstate Party at the playoffs at Pullman Yards on January 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Carol Lee Rose/Getty Images)
Thamel added that some teams asked Sanders’ gathered athletics.
“They would see him more throw in rhythm. They would see him showing a little more athletics. He is considered a mediocre athlete who did not have enough film that they thought immediately translated.”
November 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado: Colorado Buffaloes Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) Takes a Hike in the first quarter against Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field. (Ron Chenoy-Preferred Pictures)
While Friday’s second round came and went without Sanders’ name coming out of the board, the NFL team, bypassing the Quarterback position in the early part of day two, has been a trend over the last few years.
Only one quarterback has been selected in round two of the NFL draft since 2023, Thamel added.
Sanders remained available when the fourth round ended on Saturday afternoon.
Sanders ended the 2024 season with 4,134 passing yards. He is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders.
