Shedeur Sanders, the star Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback and son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, was widely projected to be a first-round NFL draft pick. ESPN’s resident draft expert, Mel Kiper, Jr., slotted Sanders to the New Orleans Saints at #9. That didn’t happen.
To make matters worse for Sanders, the New York Giants — a team that could use a franchise quarterback — traded back up in the first round to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Prior to Thursday’s draft, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year posted, “I’m built for whatever today may bring.” With an FBS all-time best 71.8% career completion rate, Sanders was confident he’d hear his name called. “We all didn’t expect this, of course,” Sanders said his Thursday night draft party (via ESPN). “I don’t feel like this happened for no reason. All this is of course fuel to the fire. Under no circumstance — we all know this shouldn’t have happened. But we understand, we’re on to bigger and better things. Tomorrow’s the day. We’re going to be happy regardless.”
Which NFL team could pick Shedeur Sanders?
There are several quarterback needy teams that could use Sanders. As it stands right now, the Cleveland Browns hold the the 33rd and 36th pick in the second round. The New Orleans Saints, who took their franchise left tackle, Kelvin Banks Jr., with pick #9, could use a quarterback considering the lingering shoulder injury of starter Derek Carr.
When asked his personal Mount Rushmore of quarterback-receiver duos on the Maxx Crosby’s podcast, Sanders replied, “Whoever is going to be the quarterback for DK Metcalf and George Pickens, whoever that is.” Metcalf and Pickens currently play for the The Pittsburgh Steelers. The problem? The Steelers chose Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with their first-round pick and they don’t own a second-round pick at the time of this writing.
