Two-way star Travis Hunter didn't have to wait long to get his name called in the NFL Draft, as the Jacksonville Jaguars took him with the second overall pick. The same can't be said about former teammate Shedeur Sanders.
Expected to go in the first or second round, Sanders ended up sliding to the fifth round. Heck, there was even chatter that he could go undrafted. But then, the Cleveland Browns put an end to his fall with the 144th overall pick. The former Colorado quarterback was thrilled, and Hunter was equally hyped up about the news. Here's the clip of his reaction.
While they now play for rival teams, Hunter caught passes from Sanders in college, so it's understandable that he would be happy to see his friend drafted, even if it was four rounds later than originally anticipated.
Now, Sanders joins a quarterback room that includes Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, and Kenny PIckett. Flacco may be the Day 1 starter for Cleveland, but nobody would bat an eye if Gabriel, Pickett, or even Sanders get playing time behind center in 2025.
Meanwhile, Hunter will be catching passes from Trevor Lawrence, so he won't see a dropoff in quarterback play. In fact, you could make a case that No. 16 will be an upgrade.
The Jaguars wouldn't have been a fit for Shedeur Sanders even after drafting Travis Etienne
Months before the draft, Shedeur Sanders was discussed as the second-best quarterback in this year's class, only behind Cam Ward. There was even chatter that he could go as early as No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns or to the New York Giants one pick later. But then, the first round came and went, and he was still available. Then came Day 2, and he remained on the board. Speculation surfaced about his slide.
The theory that made the most sense was that he was a good, not great, quarterback prospect who didn't interview well with teams. Couple that with his dad, Pro Football Hall-of-Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, having a say in his football career, and clubs didn't seemingly want to have anything to do with him. At least that appeared to be the case until the Browns drafted him in Round 5.
Out of all 32 teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars weren't a fit even though they drafted former teammate Travis Hunter. Trevor Lawrence is firmly entrenched as the starter, and Nick Mullens will tentatively be his backup. You could make the case that Sanders could supplant Mullens as QB2, and you might be right. However, the Jags had bigger needs than quarterback, so they weren't a realistic destination for him.
Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders have taken different paths in the NFL, but that won't stop them from rooting for each other every time anything good happens to either of them.