With the dust now settling after an eventful Round 1, one of the biggest conversations entering Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft is where Colorado's Shedeur Sanders will land.
Sanders, widely viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 class, was not selected within the first 32 picks, leaving many to wonder what happened with a player consistently projected as a first-rounder in mock drafts.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero explained Friday on Good Morning Football why the development wasn't entirely surprising, given the landscape of teams seeking a QB and the type of signal-caller some want to lead the franchise.
"I think that where we fall short at times, as the media, is allowing certain things to get ahead of what people within the NFL actually see," Pelissero said. "If you talk to scouts and coaches around the NFL, there was one guy in this draft who was a surefire starting quarterback, in terms of profile, and that was Cam Ward. The rest of them -- Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, who goes to the Giants after they trade up (to No. 25), Jalen Milroe, Tyler Shough -- they're all somewhere in that first-, second-round border type of scenario.
"For the Giants, they like Jaxson Dart's athletic ability, they like his size, they like the fact that they can run the football with him, run RPOs and read options, which really isn't Shedeur Sanders' game. With Shedeur, you gotta have a really clear vision. You gotta believe that he's gonna be able to adjust his game, at least somewhat, from what he did at the college level to the NFL, in terms of getting the ball out faster, not taking as many sacks, being more efficient as a quarterback. And when there's only so many teams that are even in the first-round quarterback market, you can say, 'Yeah, he's sliding,' but is it actually a slide?"
Sanders enters Day 2 of the draft as the third-highest player available on Daniel Jeremiah's Top 150 prospects list. Pelissero added Friday morning that he not only believes Sanders will hear his name called on Day 2, but up to five other QBs could also find their new homes within the second and third rounds.
The Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers -- three teams that passed on perceived QB needs with the selections of Mason Graham, Kelvin Banks Jr. and Derrick Harmon -- are among those that could be looking for a signal-caller tonight.
"Day 2 of the draft, you got the Browns with a couple of picks high in the second round, you got the Saints, who have a high second-round pick," Pelissero said. "Steelers don't have a second-round pick -- they do have a third. In my mind, that might potentially be the floor for Shedeur Sanders here. His opportunity is coming, but, again, we could talk about all the other things around Shedeur Sanders. It's all real. In terms of just the player itself, I understand what the numbers were in college, I understand the production. But the feeling within the league, you're talking about traits and what that guy's gonna be in the NFL."
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport on Friday spotlighted the Las Vegas Raiders, who hold the No. 37 overall pick, as a potential early destination for Sanders in Round 2 and a spot that would allow Sanders to learn from established veteran Geno Smith.
Here's what else we're monitoring ahead of Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, which begins Friday night at 7 p.m. ET:
Cleveland to trade early once again?
Round 1 got off to a hot start on Thursday once the Browns agreed to trade down from the No. 2 overall pick, and it's possible Cleveland begins Friday night with another big-time swap. NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reported Friday from Cleveland that the Browns are fielding calls for the first pick of Round 2 (No. 33 overall). The team has room to make such a move without losing out on a top second-round pick after they acquired the No. 36 overall pick from the Jaguars in Thursday night's blockbuster trade. That pick could also be in play for a trade to acquire more draft picks or a player if they so choose.
Which positions will make a run on Day 2?
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes there will be an early run on wide receivers on Day 2, with Iowa State's Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and Missouri's Luther Burden III among prospects to watch. Jeremiah also expects pass rushers to hear their names called early on Friday night. Marshall's Mike Green, Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Arkansas' Landon Jackson are among the top edge rushers remaining on Jeremiah's list of top remaining prospects.
How will the Jags use Travis Hunter in Year 1?
The Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to the No. 2 slot to select Travis Hunter, a unique two-way prospect who was announced on Thursday night as both a wide receiver and cornerback. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero said Friday on Good Morning Football that his understanding is that the initial plan is Jacksonville will start Hunter out with the WR room before having him meet and practice with the defensive backs.
Jags head coach Liam Coen on Friday shed some light on how the Jags' intend to get the most of Hunter the receiver and Hunter the cornerback.
"We know that he's going to be able to do both," Coen told reporters during Hunter's introductory news conference. "We feel that in our bones, we're going to set that up that way from a schedule, from an operation standpoint -- the way that we're going to operate for him. To set him up to have the most success that he can that in fact then helps the Jacksonville Jaguars to be the best version of ourselves. That's been something we've been excited about talking through for the last month, and to meet him here in person today and being around him only just validates that."
Coen stressed the need for fluidity as they on-board Hunter this summer.
"If we didn't feel like he got enough work on one side of the ball the previous day, then we need to be able to move forward and get him those reps the next day," Coen said. "I think both Camp (defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile) and I and (offensive coordinator) Grant [Udinski] are all on the same page about, 'Hey, how is this thing going to work, what do we want to look like?' We want it to look what it looked like at Colorado. That will be pretty good for us."
Dallas feeling comfortable at running back ahead of Day 2.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Friday that the team is fine with Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams leading the RB room in 2025, and for that reason they don't feel pressured to add another through the draft. "I like what we did in free agency," Jones said, via The Athletic's Jon Machota. "We don't really feel like we have to pick a position anywhere. We don't feel the need to have to reach." Dallas thought to improve the run game with the selection of guard Tyler Booker with the No. 12 overall pick. Jones, who added that the Cowboys had 13 first-round grades on their board entering Round 1 and "certainly" have some remaining on Friday, is indicating the team can take the best player available going forward. Dallas holds the No. 44 (second round) and No. 76 (third round) overall picks entering Day 2.
