Shedeur Sanders‘ shocking drop to the fifth round in the 2025 NFL Draft left fans and analysts puzzled, especially after the Colorado quarterback had once been projected as a first-round talent. Among those offering insight is Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who believes the reason may go beyond what’s been publicly discussed.
“There’s probably a lot more to this than we’ve heard,” Aikman said during an appearance on The Invasion on Sportsradio 96.7 FM/1310 The Ticket. “But it sounds like teams just weren’t convinced he could truly be a franchise quarterback.”
The Cleveland Browns, who eventually selected Sanders at No. 144 overall, had passed on him multiple times, including giving up the No. 2 pick earlier in the draft. Cleveland ultimately drafted six other players before landing Sanders, including fellow quarterback Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon.
The draft slide no one saw coming
Heading into the draft weekend in Green Bay, there was every reason to believe Sanders would go early. His arm strength, mobility, and football IQ had drawn attention throughout his college career. But as pick after pick came and went, it became clear something was amiss.
Aikman was surprised Sanders didn’t go to Pittsburgh at No. 21 or even early in the second round. “If a team believes in you at quarterback, they take you. That’s just how it works,” he said, referencing how even controversial prospects like Johnny Manziel found first-round homes.
Instead, five other quarterbacks came off the board before Sanders‘ name was finally called, fueling speculation about what went wrong during the pre-draft process.
Looking ahead: uphill battle in a crowded room
Despite the disappointment, Aikman doesn’t see the situation as hopeless. “It’s not the end of the world,” he noted. “But it’s going to be an uphill battle. He’s starting from the bottom now.”
Sanders will now compete for snaps in Cleveland’s packed quarterback room, which includes veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, along with the injured Deshaun Watson. That means limited reps and high stakes as the rookie tries to prove himself all over again.
For Aikman, the lesson is simple: the draft process matters, and the road to NFL success starts well before draft day.
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