By MIKE HERNDON

It’s NFL draft week, and suddenly we’ve all decided we don’t like Shedeur Sanders.

The Colorado QB’s perceived slide down draft boards has become the hottest story entering the draft, which begins Thursday in Green Bay.

And I get it, to a point. He’s not very big. He doesn’t have a huge arm. And his famous dad is always going to be a presence, for good or ill.

But part of me thinks that if Sanders does fall out of the top 10 as some seem to believe, then someone’s going to get a steal. He may not be 6-5 with a howitzer arm, but he does possess two traits that are far more important to success for quarterbacks in the NFL – accuracy and quick processing. And he’s proven he can stand in the pocket, take a hit, and make throws.

Sanders was once thought to be a top 3 lock, with the Browns and Giants both in need of quarterbacks after the Tennessee Titans presumably take Miami’s Cam Ward first overall – which they have strongly indicated they’re likely to do.

But reports out of Cleveland and New York suggest the Browns and Giants will pass on Sanders in the top 3 – likely in favor of Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, who might be the two best overall players in the draft. The Giants could roll this season with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and shoot for the 2026 draft. The Browns could wait until their second-round pick at 33 or trade back up into the bottom of the first round.

The Saints, with the ninth pick, need to be thinking about drafting a quarterback as well, with Derek Carr now dealing with a shoulder injury and already not the most popular guy in town. But Sanders doesn’t seem to be a popular pick there either, judging by reports out of New Orleans, and Adam Schefter’s report this week that they’re eying a trade up in the second round seems to point to that being their spot for a quarterback – potentially Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, widely expected to be the third QB off the board.

All of which could leave Sanders still available when the Steelers pick at 21. Mike Tomlin reportedly likes Sanders a lot, but Tomlin has said that about a couple other quarterbacks in this draft, too. Pittsburgh has a trove of compensatory picks to package for a potential trade up in the 2026 draft, but the longer Aaron Rodgers holes up in a cave somewhere, the more likely it becomes that the Steelers take a shot this year – particularly if Sanders falls to them.

And while everyone seems to be pointing at 2026 as a deep year for quarterbacks, it may not be as deep as originally believed. Have we not seen enough Drew Allar interceptions at the worst times? Do we really want to hitch our team’s future to Nico Iamaleava? We haven’t even seen Arch Manning play a full season yet.

A lot can happen in a year.

If the Steelers pass – defensive line and running back are also needs that could be addressed with their first-round pick – I’d look for the Browns or Giants to trade back into the bottom of the first round for Sanders and the advantage of a fifth-year option.

Bottom line: Shedeur Sanders could go anywhere between 2 and midway in the second round. But I don’t think he gets past 21.

Here’s a stab at how the first round might go:

1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami
2. Cleveland Browns – Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
3. New York Giants – Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State
4. New England Patriots – Will Campbell, OL, LSU
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
6. Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Idaho State
7. New York Jets – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
8. Carolina Panthers – Jalon Walker, edge, Georgia
9. New Orleans Saints – Mykel WIlliams, edge, Georgia
10. Chicago Bears – Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
11. San Francisco 49ers – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
12. Dallas Cowboys – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
13. Miami Dolphins – Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
14. Indianapolis Colts – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
15. Atlanta Falcons – Mike Green, DE, Marshall
16. Arizona Cardinals – Kelvin Banks, Jr., OL, Texas
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
18. Seattle Seahawks – Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
20. Denver Broncos – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
22. Las Angeles Chargers – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
23. Green Bay Packers – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
24. Minnesota Vikings – Nick Emmanwori, S. South Carolina
25. Houston Texans – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
26. Los Angeles Rams – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
27. Baltimore Ravens – Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M
28. Detroit Lions – Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
29. Washington Commanders – Donovan Ezeiruaku, edge, Boston College
30. Buffalo Bills – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Josh Conerly, Jr., OT, Oregon
32. Philadelphia Eagles – Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

Categories: NFL

Tags: 2025-nfl-draft, draft, football, NFL, NFL draft, Shedeur Sanders, sports