Shedeur Sanders Snubbed in NFL Draft’s Round 1: Browns Favored to Select Him in Round 2

Shedeur Sanders was snubbed in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. While some mock drafts had him as a potential top five pick, he fell out of the first round.  BetUS did have Sanders favored to be picked on the OVER 7.5 while ESPN Bet initially had his Over/Under draft position at 8.5, but it was later raised to 21.5.

Quarterback-needy teams such as the Raiders, Saints, Jets and Giants — twice — bypassed the record-setting Buffaloes quarterback. The Giants sidestepped Sanders at No. 3 and again at No. 25 after trading back into the first round and instead selected Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart in what was the biggest surprise of Round 1.

Many predicted the Giants would select Sanders one pick after Hunter and two picks after Miami QB Cam Ward went to the Tennessee Titans, but as the night wore on, it brought memories of the 2005 NFL draft when Cal QB Aaron Rodgers and Utah QB Alex Smith were vying for the 49ers’ top overall selection. The Niners chose Smith and Rodgers slipped all the way down to the Green Bay Packers at No. 24.

“We all didn’t expect this of course, but I feel like with God, anything’s possible, everything’s possible,” Sanders said in a video posted on YouTube on Thursday night. “I don’t think this happened for no reason. All this is, is of course fuel to the fire. Under no circumstance, we all know this shouldn’t have happened, but we understand we’re on to bigger and better things. Tomorrow’s the day. We’re going to be happy regardless.”

Sportsbooks had Sanders in a virtual four-way tie to be drafted to either the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints or New York Giants, each paying between $200 and $350 for every $100 bet.

The Browns enter Round 2 favored to draft Sanders.