Stephen A. Smith Analyzes Shedeur Sanders’ Unexpected Slide to Fifth Round in 2025 NFL Draft

The surprising drop of Shedeur Sanders to the fifth round stands as the most riveting story of the 2025 NFL Draft. Once anticipated as a top-ten selection, Sanders ended up being the 144th overall choice, which ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith attributes to perceived arrogance. He claims that NFL executives hesitated due to his father's prominent influence. Smith believes that adopting a more collective-minded approach could have notably improved Sanders' draft status, potentially costing him as much as $30 million in earnings.