The New York Giants reportedly are not “in love with” Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders enough to make him the third overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft over either Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.
For a piece published on Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler expanded on why Sanders could slide down the draft order further than some think.
“If it was me, I couldn’t do that,” an unnamed AFC executive told Fowler about possibly making Sanders a top-10 draft choice. “Not [a] great athlete, not big, not strong, undisciplined game, comes with scrutiny. Is he going to be good enough?”
The alleged slide of Sanders’ draft stock began after he “hit the wrong notes” in interviews with some clubs at the NFL Scouting Combine. Fowler noted that “the hype around Sanders doesn’t bother teams because he’s detailed and mature in his football approach,” but the fact that Sanders lacked “elite traits” during his pro day workout on April 4 did him few favors.
Some evaluators simply doubt that Sanders has the physical talent needed to excel at the highest level. While speaking with Fowler, one NFC personnel man compared Sanders to journeyman Teddy Bridgewater.
The 32nd overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, Bridgewater has made just 65 career regular-season starts.
“Fringe starter who makes good decisions and does some good things but won’t get you over the top,” that personnel man said about Sanders.
Numerous reports shared following the recent NFL owners meetings indicated a Cleveland Browns team in need of a QB1 won’t draft Sanders at pick No. 2. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is among those who think Sanders won’t drop beyond the New Orleans Saints at choice No. 9, while others believe the Pittsburgh Steelers will be able to grab the polarizing prospect with the 21st overall selection.
“One executive said Sanders’ ceiling is probably Kirk Cousins or a Baker Mayfield with less arm strength — quite good, not quite elite,” Fowler added.
For what it’s worth, people within the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to believe that Mayfield could guide that franchise to a Super Bowl championship as soon as February 2026.
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