Sanders continues dramatic slide in NFL Draft

Shedeur Sanders continued to slide in the NFL Draft on Friday - with the former Colorado quarterback not selected in either the second or third round.

Sanders was projected to be a top-five pick, so the fact he was overlooked in the first round was the biggest surprise of day one of the draft.

The 23-year-old was then expected to be picked up early on day two of the three-day event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Sanders was previously favourite to be the first pick of this year's draft but after 102 picks overall, he remains available.

It is now arguably the most dramatic draft slide in NFL history, with all 32 teams having now passed on Sanders multiple times.

In a social media post after the first round, US President Donald Trump said: "What is wrong with NFL owners - are they stupid?"

Five quarterbacks have now been selected before Sanders, with Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel taken on Friday.

Cam Ward, who replaced Sanders as favourite to be this year's first pick in January, was indeed chosen first by the Tennessee Titans before the New York Giants took Jaxson Dart 25th overall.

Coming into the draft, the Titans and Giants were two of five teams who needed a quarterback, along with the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Cleveland had two picks early in the second round, but again overlooked Sanders, before New Orleans took former Louisville quarterback Shough with the 40th pick.

Then when Pittsburgh had their second pick overall at number 83, they opted for running back Kaleb Johnson.

The Seattle Seahawks sprang a surprise by trading up for the 92nd pick to take a punt on Milroe (Alabama) as a development project.

Then two picks later the Browns pulled off another shock by claiming Gabriel (Oregon), leaving the Steelers as the only team that needs a quarterback and is yet to draft one.

Sanders' snub on Thursday was reminiscent of Aaron Rodgers' slide during the 2005 draft, when the future four-time MVP faced a humbling wait before being selected with the 24th pick.

Sanders' draft stock had fallen sharply in the last few days before the draft, with some analysts fearing he could slide not just out of the top-five picks but into the second round.

But this is now way beyond the most pessimistic projections for Sanders, and what Rodgers endured in 2005.

During the pre-draft process, Pittsburgh did meet with Sanders, who had the best pass completion rate in college football last season (74.0%), with only Cam Ward throwing more touchdown passes.

But the Steelers have also met with veteran Rodgers following his release by the New York Jets and the 41-year-old is yet to announce a decision on his future.

Speaking on Friday, the Steelers' team owner Art Rooney II said: "He does want to come here, so I do think we may get word soon."

He added: "If we draft a quarterback - and we still might - probably not someone who's going to start for us this year."

The same goes for every other team at this stage of the draft.

Pittsburgh's next pick is the 123rd overall, so unless they trade up, there are plenty of opportunities for other teams to take Sanders.

But whoever finally gives him a call, they are likely to view him as a back-up or a development project during his rookie season.

The 2025 draft concludes with rounds four to seven on Saturday, with 257 picks being made overall.