Every year, an unexpected story emerges in the NFL Draft. The 2025 edition was no different, as Shedeur Sanders, projected to go in the first or second round, fell to Round 5. Inadvertently, the Jacksonville Jaguars played a massive role in the slide.
The Cleveland Browns ended Sanders' freefall when they drafted him 144th overall, but they a prime opportunity to take him at No. 2. Heck, they were seen as a potential, albeit not probable, destination after the Tennessee Titans selected Cam Ward with the top pick, but they ended up taking a whole different route.
Aside from Sanders, pass rusher Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter were seen as potential targets for the Browns at No. 2. But instead of making the pick, they traded it to the Jags in exchange for selections No. 5 and 36 this year and their first-round selection next year.
After Jacksonville selected Hunter, the rest of the first round unfolded and Sanders went undrafted. Cleveland had two selections in Round 2 and once again passed on him. Of course, other quarterbacks were in need of quarterback help, so the slide became curious. When it continued into Round 3, it became a big deal.
There was chatter that Sanders didn't interview well, but even that was an odd reason to see him freefall. Of course, there's also the fact that he was a good quarterback prospect, but far from elite. When you add it all up, it's easy to see why several clubs passed on him. By Round 5, the risk was mitigated, so the Browns took a chance on him.
Shedeur Sanders presents an interesting case study in the NFL Draft
NFL players slide every year, but Shedeur Sanders' fall is unlike others. Just a couple years ago, Antonio Johnson was projected to go late in the first round or early in the second. However, he ended up going to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Round 5. Nobody discussed the discrepancy in his projection and the teams' evaluation of the former Texas A&M Aggie.
Meanwhile, analysts made a big deal about Sanders, and some talking heads came up with conspiracies about teams potentially blackballing him. The truth is that he wasn't nearly as good, and you don't want your backup quarterback or third-stringer to bring the spotlight and outshine the start. Simply put, the drama outweighs whatever he brought to the table.
Of course, there's a chance that Sanders will have fallen even if the Cleveland Browns hadn't traded the No. 2 pick, but they did, and the Jacksonville Jaguars played a role in it, even if they didn't know it.