By word, the NFL offseason has always been a breeding ground for chaos, but this year’s first wave of free agency took it to another level. Just when we thought we had a handle on the quarterback landscape, everything seems to have flipped on its head. At the heart of all this madness is Shedeur Sanders, a name once synonymous with the top five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. But how does this affect the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback’s legacy and the 2025 NFL Draft? Well, in more ways than we can count.

For someone who was projected to be a top 5 overall pick from the end of 2024, his draft stock is slipping like sand through an hourglass. Just last month, the Buffs QB had seemed angry when he was called a No. 6 overall pick by ESPN’s Field Yates. “That’s cap, bruh. I ain’t going sixth,” the 23-year-old had said. Well, we can’t imagine how ticked off he’s going to be to listen to the latest prediction…

On March 12, on a mock draft by CBS Sports’ show “With the First Pick”, Ryan Wilson and Josh Edwards just dealt a gut punch placing the star not even within a Top 10, or a Top 20, but a Top 30!

Yes, you heard it right. Outside the top 20, and barely clinging to the first round. Wilson began, “Alright, pick 26! The Los Angeles Rams are on the clock. Let’s do it. Shedeur Sanders, come on down. You’re going to [the Los Angeles Rams], and this feels like a great fit for a number of reasons. If you want to be in a big market, LA is the place to be. You could certainly bring some glitz and glamour to a Rams team that already has plenty of that. Matthew Stafford is not going to play forever, and behind him they have Jimmy G and Stetson Bennett. And oh, by the way, they have Sean McVay, who seems to enjoy challenging himself and finding ways to win football games in new and exciting ways. So, yes. Shedeur Sanders slips here to 26.” Now the question is: How did we get here?

Just a few months ago, Shedeur Sanders was considered a lock for the top five, often in a tight 1A-1B battle with Cam Ward. Now? Ward has created clear separation, and Sanders is fighting to stay in the first-round conversation. The whispers of his demeanor in meetings being reportedly described as “brash” and “arrogant” by NFL reporter Josina Anderson have started snowballing his draft prospects, too.

Every year, draft season brings anonymous sources spreading negative narratives, and it’s always a toss-up whether they’re legitimate concerns or calculated smokescreens from teams hoping to push a prospect down the board. But when it comes to Sanders, it feels like the momentum has turned against him. It doesn’t help that the QB market has shifted dramatically. The Seattle Seahawks’ decision to trade for Sam Darnold, setting the stage for Geno Smith to land in Las Vegas Raiders, directly impacted the Deion Sanders son’s presumed landing spot. Most mock drafts had Sanders joining the Raiders at #6, but now that door is seemingly shut.

Instead of being groomed as the next franchise quarterback in a city that embraced his larger-than-life persona, Sanders is now staring at a future where he’s waiting behind Matthew Stafford in LA, playing the long game in an offense that might not even suit his skill set.

But here’s the thing—while Sanders’ slide is grabbing all the headlines, it’s not necessarily the death knell to his career some are making it out to be. If anything, it’s a wake-up call. Falling to the back half of the first round doesn’t mean the end; it means a different beginning, which Wilson also pointed out.

“I would remind you: Another quarterback slipped into the 20s back in 2005. His name was Aaron Rogers. He’s going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. So, sometimes these things work out for a reason. You’re not going to a terrible franchise, you’re going to an established team with a great coach and a great offensive philosophy. Maybe you’re missing a few of the players. Cooper Cup is not going to be there. But you do have Davante Adams. You have Puka Nacua. You’re gonna have a great running game, and I think this could be a fantastic fit,” he reminded.

Top Comment by hbikerbob

Quote Spike Lee. I think his alligator mouth has overrun his hummingbird butt

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A fresh start in a Sean McVay-led system with a $7.6 billion valuation team that thrives on creativity could be exactly what he needs.

Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Stock: Falling or Just a Mirage?

Could the star QB really slide this low in the 2025 NFL Draft? The idea might sound wild now, but if he somehow slips to No. 26, the Rams would have an interesting decision to make—take him or trade back for a future payday.

Look at history: The Philadelphia Eagles made a similar move in 2018 when they traded back with the Ravens, allowing Baltimore to snag Lamar Jackson. In return, Philly walked away with two second-round picks and a fourth-rounder. That’s serious draft capital, and a 2026 second-rounder could give the Rams the firepower to move up in next year’s stronger QB class.

That said, Sanders isn’t expected to be available that late. Despite some teams filling quarterback needs in free agency, he’s still widely projected as a top-10 pick. And if Deion Sanders truly refuses to let his son be drafted by the Browns, the New Orleans Saints at No. 9 become the biggest hurdle. If they pass, then things could get interesting, with the Pittsburgh Steelers looming as a potential landing spot.

As we’ve seen before, draft day can be unpredictable.