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Two NFL Insiders Think Shedeur Sanders Could Fall Out of the First Round of NFL Draft

How long will Shedeur Sanders have to wait to hear his name called this weekend?

Madison Williams

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up for a game.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up for a game. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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At the start of the NFL offseason, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was viewed as a potential top pick in the NFL draft.

Since then, Sanders’s name has jumped around on draft boards, as he was considered a candidate for the New York Giants at No. 3, the New York Jets at No. 7 and then New Orleans Saints at No. 9. Most recently, he’s been heavily attached to the Pittsburgh Steelers at pick No. 21.

However, two NFL insiders now think it’s possible Sanders drops out of the first round entirely.

CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported on Wednesday that some teams he's spoken to gave Sanders a second-round grade. Per Jones, there's a "very good chance" that Sanders will drop to the second round, and it’s possible he’s not even the second quarterback to come off of the board.

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah has Sanders being selected by the Steelers—which is what Sanders seems to be insinuating at this time, too—but like Jones, believes that if the quarterback doesn't land in Pittsburgh, then he could drop to the second round. There isn't really another team behind the Steelers in the first round that look all that interested in Sanders.

On top of these NFL insiders making these statements on Wednesday, Sanders's draft position on betting websites dramatically moved from 8.5 to 21.5 on multiple draft books, Yahoo! Sports' Ben Fawkes reported, putting him right at the Steelers’ selection of No. 21.

As things stand, the momentum seems to be behind Sanders heading to Pittsburgh, as even Sanders was hinting at being a Steeler in the near-future earlier this week. That said, anything can happen in the draft. The first round can’t get here soon enough.

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Madison Williams
MADISON WILLIAMS

Madison Williams is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where she specializes in tennis but covers a wide range of sports from a national perspective. Before joining SI in 2022, Williams worked at The Sporting News. Having graduated from Augustana College, she completed a master’s in sports media at Northwestern University. She is a dog mom and an avid reader.

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