Shedeur Sanders' Top NFL Draft Destinations Post Round One Slide

Analysts, fans and Shedeur Sanders himself We were all taken aback that he didn’t get picked in the initial round.

The former Colorado quarterback was, at times, projected to be drafted within the top 3 picks in the pre-draft process. That did not happen; both the Pittsburgh Steelers , ranked at No. 21, and the New York Giants, who moved up to No. 25, opted to pass on Sanders .

Currently, Sanders stands out as one of the premier remaining players as Day 2 of the NFL draft progresses. Friday evening However, since there aren’t numerous teams looking for quarterbacks, if he isn’t chosen within the initial selections of the second round, it might turn into another lengthy wait for Sanders.

The Steelers, alongside the Giants, together with the Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Raiders All of these seem to be potential destinations for the Colorado star.

Here are some of his finest matches as per USA TODAY Sports .

5. New Orleans Saints

Initially, the Saints appeared to be a potential destination early in the first round with the ninth overall selection before this development. Derek Carr injury news In the first round, New Orleans opted for offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. over selecting a quarterback.

It would be prudent for the Saints to hold off and assess their options before selecting a quarterback, possibly until 2026, instead of choosing from the available throwers this year.

4. New York Jets

The Jets haven't been the primary New York squad closely associated with Sanders. The Giants hold that distinction, as they arranged an impromptu tryout with Sanders recently but eventually concluded that Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was more suitable for their needs.

The Jets’ new leadership chose the reliable and wise selection with their first-round pick of right tackle Armand Membou. If the offensive line improves, it could become the finest unit that Sanders has ever had on his side. This enhancement would significantly benefit any young quarterback, particularly one who faced 42 sacks in 2024.

3. Las Vegas Raiders

Many think the The Raiders might be the team. To choose Sanders on Friday evening. There has been a connection between Sanders and the Raiders during the entire drafting period. However, following their trade for Geno Smith and his contract extension, these speculations somewhat subsided.

With Geno Smith as their seasoned quarterback, the Raiders offer a strong mentorship opportunity for Sanders. Adding to this, Pete Carroll’s inclination towards a ground game creates an ideal environment for Sanders to excel in once he gets his chance at driving the team forward.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers entered Round 1 as possibly the most likely team to draft Sanders, yet they opted against selecting a quarterback and chose Oregon’s Derrick Harmon instead. Among these five teams, Pittsburgh boasts the weakest group of quarterbacks, featuring just Mason Rudolph and Zachary Thompson on their current roster. Nevertheless, the Steelers lack a second-round selection and will not make another choice until the 83rd overall pick.

Given their roster featuring wide receivers DK Metcalf and George Pickens, along with Mason Rudolph currently being the main obstacle for the top quarterback position, the Steelers appear to be an attractive option for Sanders. However, considering that Pittsburgh passed on him with the No. 21 overall pick in the first round, perhaps they aren’t as keen on him after all.

1. Cleveland Browns

Just as it stood two days ago, the Browns appear to be the most likely destination for Sanders. Given that Deshaun Watson will miss the season, Cleveland plans to start with Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. This situation offers Sanders an opportunity to compete for the starting position during training camp. However, should he end up backing up either Pickett or Flacco, it wouldn’t necessarily be detrimental. Additionally, the team’s coaching approach and system could align well with how Sanders prefers to play.

Despite the coincidence of both Kevin Stefanski and Colorado’s offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur having previously worked with the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland could very well be the perfect fit for Sanders.

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The article initially appeared on Buffalo Wire. Leading NFL Draft destinations for Shedeur Sanders following the first-round drop