Shedeur Sanders’ stunning fall through NFL Draft ‘surprising,’ says Broncos coach Sean Payton

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Shedeur Sanders lingers over the NFL Draft like fog and mist. His status shrouds the entire picture, to the point where even for a team where quarterback is a complete non-issue with all focus on a promising young passer already in the fold, the situation became a sizzling topic.

“There’s nothing that ever takes place during this period of time that surprises you,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said when asked about Shedeur Sanders.

Well, almost nothing, as it turns out.

“This thing is — it’s surprising,” Payton said.

“I think we all are surprised. And yet the talent, Holy cow.”

SEAN PAYTON IS QUITE FAMILIAR WITH SHEDEUR SANDERS

Payton goes back with the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback for years.

“I saw him when he was in junior high and then I saw him when he was in high school, and then I saw him when he was a sophomore in high school come practice on their way to Florida. And so, I’ve had a chance and I’ve known Deion [Sanders] and I felt like I grew up watching him play,” Payton said.

For Payton, that’s enough to know what kind of player Shedeur Sanders is — and more importantly, what type of quarterback he believes the ex-Buff will be, in part because of the descent into the draft’s middle rounds.

Sanders will be no better than the sixth quarterback taken, behind Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel.

“There’ll be this chip on his shoulder and beware, because this guy’s going to play in this league,” Payton said.

“I think it’s hard for any of us to explain what other people are looking for. We focus on what we’re looking for.

“And yeah, I mean, I think it’s surprising.”

Payton is far from the only person to feel that way.

If Sanders is the first quarterback selected on Saturday, he’ll be QB6 in the 2025 NFL Draft. Bo Nix was QB6 last year. It worked out OK for him.

But being the sixth quarterback in last year’s passer-rich first round felt far different than it will for Shedeur Sanders in a crop of passers that is considered considerably weaker than 2024’s crop.

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