The second day of the NFL Draft, with all its chaos, trades, and surprises, ended up being centered around one name — and it was someone who wasn’t even picked. Shedeur Sanders.
The standout Colorado quarterback, and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, had been widely expected to hear his name called in the first round — or at the very least, early in the second.
But that moment never came. Despite quarterbacks like Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Dillon Gabriel — all generally ranked lower — getting selected Friday night, Sanders remained undrafted, leaving many around the league stunned.
The unexpected snub sparked disappointment and even some wild conspiracy theories suggesting NFL owners were hesitant to embrace Sanders’ big personality. Even three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes chimed in, posting a single, pointed word on social media to express his take on the surprising situation.
Mahomes Calls Appears To Call Sanders’ Draft Slump ‘Crazy’
Patrick Mahomes’ one-word post wasn’t a direct reply to anything specific, so there’s no way to know with absolute certainty what the future Hall of Famer was referring to.
However, given the significance of Shedeur Sanders’ unexpected draft slide — and Mahomes’ clear interest in the NFL Draft — it’s a pretty safe bet he wasn’t commenting on the NHL playoffs.
Mahomes himself didn’t have to wait long for his NFL moment, with the Kansas City Chiefs trading up to the 10th overall pick to snag him out of Texas Tech. Based on the buzz surrounding Shedeur before the draft and the strong college résumé he built at Colorado, almost no one expected him to still be available heading into Day 3.
How Much Longer Will Shedeur Sanders Need To Wait To Hear His Name Called?
At this stage, anything could happen. Some believe teams will be eager to grab the former Colorado standout early in the fourth round, while others argue that if NFL franchises view him strictly as a backup, he could be selected anywhere from the start of Round 4 to the final pick in the seventh.
Ultimately, teams now evaluating Sanders must decide whether they see him as a solid backup option, especially with reports that some organizations came away underwhelmed from their meetings with the Hall of Famer’s son.
Heading into Day 3, the pool of potential landing spots expands significantly, with teams now more focused on adding backup or developmental quarterbacks rather than starter-ready prospects typically taken on Days 1 and 2.
Even the Jacksonville Jaguars at pick No. 104 could be a realistic suitor, given that their current backup, Nick Mullens, holds a 5-15 career record as a starter — and they could be the ones to finally end Shedeur’s surprising slide.