Full disclosure, I did not do a 2025 mock draft this year.

But if I did, I would have had the University of Colorado, two-way star, Travis Hunter going in the top five, and I would have been right as the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to take Hunter with the second overall pick.

As for his quarterback teammate, Shedeur Sanders, I had him potentially going to the New York Giants with the 3rd overall pick, probably going to the New Orleans Saints with the 9th overall selection and undoubtedly ending up as a Pittsburgh Steeler if he fell all the way to number 21.

And I would have been wrong. Way wrong.

Apparently, teams didn’t like Shedeur’s arm strength, size, pre-draft interviews, or arrogance. Teams didn’t see him as a starter, didn’t want him as a backup, and didn’t want anything to do with his father, Deion. Teams were turned off by his podcast, Legendary, his rapping, and his dollar sign trademark.

BOULDER, CO – APRIL 19: Former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders looks on during a ceremony to retire his jersey before the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images for ONIT)

Shedeur was criticized for skipping the Senior Bowl, the Combine, and for being unprepared while meeting with the New York Giants. As a matter of fact, the only quarterback skill that Shedeur seemed to be mastering was his ability to slide.

All the way to pick 144 in the 5th round.

Like I said, I had Shedeur Sanders going third in my mock draft, but as for the mocked draft – Shedeur seems to be going everywhere.

• Looks like the NFL stands for Not so Fast Legendary.

Credit via Wikipedia

• James Gladstone, the 34-year-old GM of the Jacksonville Jaguars, started the fun by giving up a ton to move up for the second pick to grab Travis Hunter. I guess Gladstone scouted Hunter when playing Madden, eventually got his DM, touched base via Twitch, and then asked one of the older staff members for instructions on how to make a phone call for draft day.

• On the bright side, between Hunter (2), Jimmy Horn (208), and LaJohntay Wester (203), that’s three receivers picked up from the University of Colorado. Four if you count the receiver Shedeur picked up during the prank phone call.

• Yes, there were a lot of rumors that Shedeur was not prepared and bombed his interview with the New York Giants. But speaking for any college kid about to graduate in the Spring – at least he GOT an interview!

• The Giants moved up in the late first-round trying to hit a bullseye by drafting Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, thinking he could be the next Eli Manning. From the franchise that traded for Drew Lock, started Tommy DeVito, and gave Daniel Jones 4yr/$160 million – Jaxson Dart’s a Big Ol’ Miss alright.

• The New Orleans Saints passed on Shedeur as well, but eventually picked up Tyler Shough with the 8th pick in the second round. The Saints were in a bind since starting quarterback Derek Carr was old, inconsistent, and had a history of injuries. Shough will be 26 years old when the season begins, is a little erratic, and missed time with a broken collarbone (twice), and a broken fibula. Meaning, he’s old, inconsistent, and had a history of injuries.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers also had a chance to draft Shedeur as the team is currently set to start Mason Rudolph for the foreseeable future. Passing on Shedeur in the first round was reasonable. But passing on him in the third and fourth round surprised many. That’s the Steelers, going “old school” to deal with major problems – ignore them, hoping that they will eventually just go away.

• Maybe it’s a Nepo Baby thing and NFL teams were just turned off by Shedeur Sanders and his father, Deion. Pete Carroll, coach of the Seattle Seahawks, probably got together with a couple of his coaches, Brennan and Nate Carroll, and decided on Alabama’s Jalen Milroe instead.

• The 2025 NFL season is bringing us a different look as it introduces a new uniform program called “Rivalries.” Teams from the AFC East and NFC West will occasionally play in custom jerseys and helmets filled with unique designs and colors. According to the Sanders family, there’s even a blackball.

• Count me in as one of many that was put off by the flashy background setting of an NFL potential starting quarterback. Oh, not Shedeur and his giant logo – I’m talking about Quinn Ewers and all those mounted animals in the background. Oh, deer.

Credit via The Taxidermy Store

• I guess Ewers was already bringing in big bucks.

• Shedeur was eventually taken in the 5th round by the Cleveland Browns. Before names like Robert Longerbeam (Ravens) and Zeke Biggers (Miami), but slightly after Jordan Hancock (Bills). Wait, is this the NFL Draft or the Adult Film Awards.

• Day three of the draft was a little past Shedeur’s expectation date – or is that expiration date. After all, some think he’s a little spoiled.

Credit via UPI

• I’m not saying that Shedeur and Deion messed up. But that’s the worst father-son PR combo since LaVar Ball was mentoring LiAngelo.

• Young man falls from grace, failing to live up to the expectations of an overbearing father. Now one must choose between the young stud from Oregon, the washed-up pretty boy, the accused sex offender, or the aging one way past his prime. Next episode of Hard Knocks, or Days of Our Lives?

• Shedeur, just know that Colorado is pulling for you to succeed and we wish you all the best. Whether you’re wearing a jersey for the Cleveland Browns, retiring your jersey at Folsom Field, or working your next job at Jersey Mike’s.

Images via Reddit, NPR, Wikipedia, thetaxidermystore, upi

Alan Tapley The Athletic Supporter

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship