Shedeur Sanders is still on the board following the first round of the NFL draft. The New York Giants passed on the former Colorado star quarterback twice, including with the No. 3 pick Thursday night.
Las Vegas (at No. 6), the New York Jets (No. 7), New Orleans (No.
9) and Pittsburgh (No. 21) also said no thanks to Sanders, and that’s four teams seemingly in need of a signal caller. If anyone knows what it feels like to wait to hear your name called in the draft, it’s Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott.
Dallas waited until the fourth round in 2016 to select its future leader of the franchise. Cowboys Be the smartest Cowboys fan. Get the latest news.
SIGN UP Or with: Google Facebook By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy “I don’t think it’s fair in the sense of how much people are looking for and toward [Sanders] being drafted, because … it doesn’t matter when you get in,” Prescott said Friday, via DLLS_Cowboys. “I know he expected himself to go No. 1 overall — and he would be wrong if he didn’t expect himself to be there.
So every pick after that, that hurts, but every pick after that I know is fuel to the fire." Advertisement “Every pick after that is fuel is the fire.” Dak Prescott speaks on Shedeur Sanders not being selected in yesterday’s first round draft class. pic.twitter.com/dNFS89jvPd — DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) April 25, 2025 Even with Prescott echoing a phrase Sanders used himself late Thursday night, the question is how far will Sanders fall now?
He will definitely be available when the second round begins Friday with QB-needy Cleveland on the clock. The Browns hold two of the first four picks in the round. Advertisement There was some thought a team would trade into the bottom end of the first round and grab Sanders.
But no one did. Advertisement The Giants looked like they might. They sent three picks to Houston for the 25th overall selection and then chose Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart over Sanders.
TV cameras showed a solemn Sanders family watching and waiting in Canton, Texas. “A little bit of that I know from Shedeur, talking to him, yeah, this is only gonna make him better. This is only gonna push him,” Prescott said.
“It’s all about when you get into this business. When you get in, you can handle it. I know Shedeur can handle it.
He’s been through a lot. He’s had pressure his whole life, so this will be no different.” Advertisement Concerns about Sanders’ arm strength have become an issue in recent weeks. In 50 collegiate games, Shedeur Sanders threw for 14,347 yards, with 134 touchdowns and 27 interceptions.
He completed 70.1% of his passes and ran for 17 more scores. “They look at a lot,” Prescott said. “I mean, they’re investing in a big position in this draft and you’ve got to respect and understand the business of that and having been in the league, I do, so I know why I dropped [in 2016].
“And for the guys who are dropping, whether it’s off the field, whether it’s on the field, whether it’s he say, she say accuracy talk or, you know, he hadn’t competed against people, it really doesn’t matter. You’ve been playing and playing the best you can with the hand you’re dealt in the system that you’re in, and that’s all you can ever do.” Sanders finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting. Former Colorado teammate Travis Hunter went second overall to Jacksonville, which traded four picks to move up three spots and select the Heisman winner.
Advertisement But Sanders didn’t get the same first-round party. Although there was some speculation he might slide to the second round, most outsiders figured someone — maybe a big-city franchise — would take a chance on the talented player who brings an entourage. Sanders previously said he didn’t need the bright lights of Broadway or the Bellagio.
“I could bring cameras and eyes anywhere I go,” he said. And he insisted the attention wouldn’t bother him one bit because, as his father Deion said, he was raised to keep calm and carry on. “One thing I learned is to not really care about anybody’s opinion but those around us who matter,” Shedeur said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Advertisement Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
