Shedeur Sanders reportedly doesn’t want the Titans, Browns, or Giants to draft him

Shedeur Sanders' draft stock has taken a hit in recent weeks. analysts project the former Colorado quarterback may slide down as far as 32.

Shedeur Sanders reportedly doesn’t want the Titans, Browns, or Giants to draft him

Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

It has only been a few days since Shedeur Sanders said that NFL clubs would regret not picking him over other quarterbacks such as Cam Ward at Colorado’s Pro Day. Mock drafts project him being taken in the top 3, which means he will either play for the Titans, Browns, or Giants. Yet reports suggest Sanders might be happier if those three teams avoid selecting him.

Sanders has been a very polarizing figure ever since making the switch from Division 2 football to Colorado in 2023. Some analysts really like what he brings to a team, but others not so much.

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The biggest downside to Sanders’ style of play is his arm strength, but he more than makes up for it with accurate passes and pocket awareness. Shedeur logged a 74% pass completion rate behind an offensive line that allowed nearly 50 sacks in 2024. Sanders was the most sacked quarterback last year with 42.

So going to a team where he will have the best chance of playing his natural game is a better outcome than playing for the Browns, Titans, and Giants, whose offensive lines ranked 20, 21, and 28 in the 2024 season (ht/Pro Football Sports Network).

The Pittsburgh Steelers have shown interest

Sanders at the Pro Day asked the NFL teams to give him a chance to show his skills. He’s probably the most critiqued rookie quarterback this year. It has caused his draft stock to fall in recent weeks.

Shedeur Sanders reportedly doesn't want the Titans, Browns, or Giants to draft him
Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

Former ESPN and FOX Sports analyst Skip Bayless was in shock to see the slump. In a tweet, Bayless blasted the mock drafts for negatively influencing the scouts of the teams that hold the top picks.

“Just read The Athletic’s consensus draft board. Shedeur Sanders is ranked 32nd. Mind-blowing. All-time laughable. Shedeur has rare accuracy, toughness, and feel for playing the hardest position to play in sports. Titans should take him No. 1.”

Bayless may be angry with the developments, but it’s better to look on the bright side. There are teams down the order who require a quarterback. One of them is the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that is chasing Aaron Rodgers, but if the pursuit of the 41-year-old fails, they might draft a rookie.

Sanders falling beyond 20 is still a long shot, but the Steelers can snap him up even before that. The easiest way would be to trade up, and the perfect partner is the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team from Florida doesn’t need a QB, as they already have Trevor Lawrence. Convincing the Jaguars to trade the fifth-overall pick might be enough to land Sanders.

Bayless’ ex-FOX colleague Nick Wright’s mock draft 1.0 also projected Sanders to slide.

“If he is there at 21, I feel like the Steelers will take him,” Nick Wright said.

According to Jordan Schultz, the Steelers are set to host Sanders for a Top 30 visit. Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan must take this chance to lure him to Pittsburgh through the draft.

Draft expert sees NFC South team selecting Shedeur Sanders

During Wednesday’s segment of First Take, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft projected Sanders sliding to 21st. However, Kiper believes some teams wouldn’t let the departing Buffaloes quarterback drop that far. By some team, he meant the New Orleans Saints, who hold the 9th overall pick this year.

If [Shedeur] Sanders doesn’t go to the Giants, there aren’t many clear landing spots for him in the top 10… I could see a team trading up for him—maybe even the Saints, who have nine picks [in the 2025 NFL Draft]—but most of these rosters are already set at quarterback. This is a great outcome for New Orleans, though. I like this match a lot.

Mel Kiper Jr. said

Did Shedeur’s father and coach, Deion Sanders, see this coming? The Hall of Famer out of nowhere announced that he would be happy with whichever NFL team drafts his son. Earlier, Sanders warned teams that he would force a flip if Shedeur doesn’t end up in a favorable system. Perhaps sliding down the draft isn’t such a bad development.