NFL Exec Predicts Shedeur Sanders Falls Out of 1st Round If He Doesn't Ease Concerns

There is reportedly a lot riding on quarterback Shedeur Sanders' interviews at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, some NFL teams are "curious" about whether Sanders "will fully dedicate himself to being a great player at the NFL level."

Their concerns could either be confirmed or allayed by how he performs in interviews, and those meetings may ultimately be the difference between Sanders being a first-round pick or a Day 2 selection.

While Sanders will likely be a high pick in the 2025 NFL draft if teams are comfortable with him in interviews, one NFL executive told Howe that they believe Sanders will fall outside the first round if he doesn't impress.

ESPN's Matt Miller reported earlier this week that Sanders got off to a strong start on the interview circuit, as teams that spoke to him at the East-West Shrine Bowl thought he was "fantastic" and came across as "confident, funny and comfortable, and he showed teams how much he loves the game of football while also expressing his willingness to work hard to be great at it."

Sanders, the son of University of Colorado head football coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, starred for two seasons at Colorado.

The Buffaloes went only 4-8 in his first season, but he completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

Both Sanders and the team as a whole took a big step forward in 2024, as the Buffs finished 9-4 and Sanders completed 74.0 percent of his passing attempts for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 picks.

Sanders was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, plus he finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.

His main competition to be the first quarterback off the board in the 2025 NFL draft is Miami's Cam Ward, who finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting after completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

It seems likely that at least one of Sanders or Ward will come off the board inside the top three picks since the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants all have a clear and obvious need at quarterback.

The Las Vegas Raiders also desperately need a quarterback, so they may not allow Ward or Sanders to slip past them at No. 6 if they are still available. The same can be said for the New York Jets at No. 7.

Beyond that, the quarterback need isn't as dire, so it is not outside the realm of possibility that Sanders could fall to the second round if he isn't taken inside the top seven picks.

Teams are already well aware of what Sanders has put out on tape and what he can do on the field, but it sounds as though his personality will be the determining factor in where he lands.