The NFL Draft delivered several surprises, notably regarding Shedeur Sanders’ projected standing. Initially considered a potential top-five pick, Sanders ultimately wasn’t selected among the first five quarterbacks chosen.
Several signal callers went off the board early; Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart were both first-round selections. The New Orleans Saints then unexpectedly chose Tyler Shough at No. 40 overall.
The Seattle Seahawks, having previously traded Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and signing Sam Darnold to a lucrative three-year, $100 million deal, generated considerable buzz by selecting Alabama’s Jalen Milroe with the 92nd pick.
Just three picks later, the Cleveland Browns – a team possessing multiple opportunities to draft Sanders – opted for Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.
The Draft Landscape:
- Cam Ward & Jaxson Dart: First-Round Picks
- Tyler Shough: Selected by Saints (40th Pick)
- Jalen Milroe: Surprise Selection by Seahawks (92nd Pick)
- Dillon Gabriel: Chosen by Browns
Despite not being known for a particularly strong throwing arm, scouts have lauded Milroe’s exceptional raw athleticism – arguably among the best of any quarterback in this draft class. His performance at Alabama included impressive statistics over his final two seasons; he amassed 5,678 passing yards and 1,257 rushing yards.
Gabriel, after transferring to Oregon for his senior year, led the Ducks as the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff before a defeat against Ohio State, who subsequently secured the national championship title.
Sanders’ slide continues with five quarterbacks now chosen ahead of him. Following the first round on Thursday night, Sanders expressed surprise at falling into the second round – and it’s easy to imagine his current disappointment.
“I didn’t expect” to be still available heading into the later rounds, Sanders stated.
Gabriel’s collegiate season was noteworthy; he finished third in Heisman Trophy voting while leading the Big Ten in both completions and pass attempts. His final statistics included 3,857 passing yards and a remarkable 30 touchdowns.
Adding to the intrigue, Quinn Ewers is also awaiting his selection, which would be considered an unexpected outcome.
