Shedeur Sanders fell out of the first round

One year ago, Shedeur Sanders looked like a lock to be a top-ten pick in the 2025 NFL draft, according to multiple sports media outlets like CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, and NBC Sports. In fact, just ten days ago, ESPN NFL Draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates projected Sanders to be taken with the ninth overall pick.

After Cam Ward was chosen by the Titans, there was some speculation that the Browns could’ve selected Sanders with the second-overall pick. However, they traded back with the Jaguars, who took Travis Hunter. The quarterback-needy Giants were on the clock next, but they elected to take Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. After that, Sanders’ free fall began.

The Saints need a quarterback, and Sanders was available at the ninth spot. Considering Derek Carr has a shoulder “issue,” it would’ve made sense for them to take Sanders. Instead, they chose Texas lineman Kelvin Banks Jr.

Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders did not get selected in Thursday night’s first round.

Heading into round two Friday night, as @EpKap notes, there has been only one quarterback drafted in the second round in the last three years combined — Will Levis in 2023.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2025

As the picks continued to fly, the Steelers came on the board in desperate need of a starting QB. However, they drafted defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.

Then, it happened. The New York Giants traded back up into the first round to draft a quarterback! But it wasn’t Shedeur Sanders. The G-Men selected Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart with the 25th pick in the draft.

After all the pre-draft hype and speculation, Shedeur Sanders fell out of the first round, causing him to lose out on millions of dollars in terms of contract stipulations. In all likelihood, he’ll be taken in the second or third round, but the Sanders family is undoubtedly disappointed.

The Jaguars traded up to the number-two spot

The Jacksonville Jaguars were clearly enamored with Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter. They were so taken by Hunter that they traded up three spots to pick him, giving up a lot in the process.

Originally, the Cleveland Browns were scheduled to have the second-overall pick, and it looked like a guarantee that they would choose Hunter after their general manager likened him to Shohei Ohtani. But the Jags made an offer to the Browns that was too tempting to pass up. Jacksonville traded the fifth-overall pick, a second-round pick (36), a fourth-round pick (126), and a 2026 first-round pick to Cleveland for the second-overall pick, a 2025 fourth-round pick (104), and a 2025 sixth-round pick (200).

We have drafted WR/DB Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick!@FieldsCadillac | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/dGIowuIuST

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 25, 2025

Jaguars general manager James Gladstone, who was hired this off-season, did not want to miss out on a franchise-altering prospect like Travis Hunter, who plays offense and defense at a high level.

“We ended up bringing Travis Hunter to Jacksonville, and with that, he is somebody who is deserving of a first-round draft pick as a wide receiver, and he is worthy of a first-round draft pick as a corner,” Gladstone said. “Certainly, look forward to each of those elements showing themselves over the next few years while he is under his rookie contract, but yeah, we’re excited about just getting him in the boat, so to speak.”

Tyler Warren was not the first tight end taken

After Shedeur Sanders’ free fall, this might have been the most surprising outcome of the first round. I believed that there was a consensus understanding that Penn State’s Tyler Warren was the best tight end prospect in this draft class. Then again, that thinking is why I’m not a general manager, I guess.

The New York Jets, who have lacked an elite tight end for years, could’ve taken Warren with the seventh overall pick, but they opted for right tackle Armand Membou, which is actually a smart decision. They had a huge need for a right tackle, and Membou could fill that hole.

A few picks later, the Chicago Bears were on the clock. I had heard rumors that they were very interested in Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, but he was taken off the board four picks earlier by the Las Vegas Raiders. The Bears could’ve gone defensive line or offensive line, but they decided to take a tight end. However, it wasn’t Tyler Warren. It was Michigan’s Colston Loveland.

Every year, there is a player who gets really hot really late, one that teams are scrambling to trade up for.

Last night, that player was #Michigan TE Colston Loveland. When the #Bears picked him at No. 10, the calls in the early teens quieted. There wasn’t a trade until 25.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2025

This decision perplexed me and Bears fans alike because Warren’s statistics were better across the board last season. During the 2024-25 campaign, Loveland recorded 56 receptions for 582 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Simultaneously, Warren caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. That’s almost twice as many receptions and more than twice as many yards.

Maybe general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson see something in Loveland that the rest of us don’t, but I was certain that Warren was going to be the first tight end off the board in this draft class.

The Steelers didn’t pick a quarterback

I understand that teams might not be thrilled with the quarterbacks in this draft class. So many members of the sports media landscape have dubbed this a particularly weak quarterback class, but the Steelers staying put and not taking a quarterback with the 21st overall pick was genuinely shocking.

They had the option to take Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Louisville’s Tyler Shough, or several other quarterbacks. They took a defensive tackle instead, meaning Pittsburgh’s quarterback room consists of Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. That SUCKS!

Welcome to the Burgh, @DerrickHarmon20 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/UVcryDUdOa

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 25, 2025

The Steelers have been in quarterback purgatory ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired in January 2022. During that time, they have had five different quarterbacks make a start for them and three different Week One starters. They could have solved that issue and drafted a quarterback with the 21st pick. At the very least, there would have been some hope for the future of this organization on the offensive side of the ball.

The Steelers clearly have no idea what they’re doing at the quarterback position, or they’re really confident that the guy they want is going to fall into their lap. I don’t see that happening, though, since they don’t have another draft pick until the third round (83).