ESPN star offers explanation following Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft tumble

The opening circular of the 2025 NFL Draft brought its just stock of surprises, but Sheduer Sanders' plummet was arguably the astir important lawsuit of the night.

On Friday, the Sanders saga transformed from astonishing to efficaciously inexplicable. 

Every team, including the franchises that entered this year's draught with question marks astatine the backmost position, passed connected selecting the erstwhile Colorado backmost successful the first, second, oregon 3rd round. Since Thursday, galore figures successful the sports satellite and beyond person shared thoughts astir wherefore Sanders fell down draught boards.

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Shedeur Sanders looks connected astatine his jersey status ceremonial during Colorado's NCAA assemblage shot outpouring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, successful Boulder, Colo.  (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

ESPN's Pete Thamel is among that group. According to Thamel's conversations with respective teams, Sanders' escaped autumn could mostly beryllium attributed to the valuation of his talent.

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"I talked to astir fractional a twelve teams today. . . . They conscionable thought that helium wasn't a first-round endowment and a first-round player," Thamel said connected Friday.

Pete Thamel attends 11th Annual Allstate Party At the Playoff astatine Pullman Yards connected January 18, 2025, successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Carol Lee Rose/Getty Images)

Thamel added that immoderate teams questioned Sanders' wide athleticism.

"They wanted to spot him much throwing successful rhythm. They wanted to spot him amusement a small spot much athleticism. He's considered a mediocre jock who didn't person capable movie that they thought instantly translated."

Nov. 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado: Colorado Buffaloes backmost Shedeur Sanders (2) takes a hike successful the archetypal 4th against the Oklahoma State Cowboys astatine Folsom Field. (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

While Friday's 2nd circular came and went without Sanders' sanction coming disconnected the board, NFL teams bypassing the backmost presumption successful the aboriginal information of time 2 has been a inclination the past mates of years.

Just 1 backmost has been selected successful circular 2 of the NFL Draft since 2023, Thamel added.

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Sanders remained disposable erstwhile the 4th circular concluded connected Saturday afternoon.

Sanders finished the 2024 play with 4,134 passing yards. He is the lad of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado shot caput manager Deion Sanders.

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