Shedeur Sanders' NFL Draft Slide Linked to Pre-Draft Interviews

Shedeur Sanders, once considered a top NFL Draft prospect, experienced a dramatic fall to the fifth round, with multiple reports attributing his slide to poor pre-draft interviews and perceived entitlement. Some sources suggest Sanders intentionally underperformed in interviews with teams he was less interested in, possibly aiming to influence where he would be drafted, a strategy reportedly supported by his father, Deion Sanders. Team officials and coaches described Sanders as unprepared in meetings, with one high-profile incident occurring during his visit with the New York Giants. Additionally, Sanders skipped key evaluation events such as the NFL Combine and all-star practices, limiting teams' opportunities to assess him. Despite the controversy, Sanders has publicly focused on his positive experience with the Cleveland Browns, who ultimately selected him. The combination of these factors—interview performance, selective interest, and limited exposure—contributed to his unexpected draft position.