It happened: Colorado’s quarterback Shedeur Sanders completely fell out the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Throughout the pre-draft process, few quarterbacks were as polarizing as Sanders. Analysts were divided on his potential, with some valuing him highly and others believing he belonged further down the first round.

Despite a solid career at Colorado, he was nearly absent from pre-draft events. He skipped the East-West Shrine Bowl and had no participation at the NFL Scouting Combine. His visibility was limited to a mandatory press conference in Indianapolis.

On draft night, teams in need of quarterbacks included the Titans, Browns, Giants, and Steelers. Other teams, like the Jets and Saints, could also consider upgrading at quarterback.

As expected, the Titans selected Miami quarterback Cam Ward first overall. The Giants traded up to secure Jaxson Dart after initially picking an edge rusher, leaving Sanders without a team after 32 picks.

Looking at the quarterback drafting history, the position is frequently picked higher than any other. Recent trends show that first-round quarterbacks generally get selected much earlier than later rounds, making Sanders’ situation surprising, particularly since there were teams believed to be interested.

Sanders’ evaluation reveals a player who, while strong in some areas, lacks in critical NFL quarterback metrics, including mobility and pressure resistance. His failure to meet certain physical benchmarks combined with limited game-changing abilities likely contributed to his slide.

Despite his significant strengths, such as an impressive adjusted completion percentage, he did not secure a top 10 draft position. His future now entails finding a team willing to take a chance on his potential in the rounds ahead.