Shedeur Sanders‘ gorgeous fall down the draft board was rapidly attributed to a questionable ability set and/or a perceived lack of maturity. ESPN’s Stephen Holder points to one other concern amongst groups: the “circus” that will accompany a Sanders choice.
“Because the Shedeur Sanders saga performed out Friday, I used to be reminded of the times when Tim Tebow was a free agent and there have been claims his outward shows of religion had been being held in opposition to him. What truly occurred was extra nuanced. Groups had been reluctant to signal him due to the circus associated to his superstar (on a stage much like Sanders IMO), esp as a possible backup. A few of that’s taking place right here. Thursday’s fall was principally about expertise. Final evening was about one thing else.
“Downside is, this challenge turns into extra pronounced the additional he falls. Any staff that picks him at this level might be doing so with the intent of getting Sanders as a backup. That’s going to be an attention-grabbing state of affairs to need to handle.”
Holder is adamant that Sanders’ first-round snub was about expertise, however he believes his Day 2 absence was “about one thing else.” The reporter references Tim Tebow‘s free company, noting that groups had been cautious of the eye that naturally follows a “superstar” athlete. Sanders clearly isn’t an actual equal to Tebow, however the well-liked Colorado star will now attract even more attention after all of a sudden dropping out of the primary two days of the draft.
There’s been a preferred sentiment that the reward now outweighs any threat, however that will seemingly solely apply to groups that don’t have a future reply at QB. With regards to groups that will solely take into account Sanders as a backup, Holder warns that the considerations would solely grow to be “extra pronounced.”
It’s nonetheless assumed that Sanders will hear his title known as sooner or later, however potential touchdown spots proceed to dry up. The Giants had been as soon as a key suitor for Sanders, however they clearly eliminated themselves from that sweepstakes after they traded again into the primary to pick Jaxson Dart. We later heard reports that a meeting between Sanders and Giants head coach Brian Daboll had not gone effectively, and the group’s curiosity within the prospect cooled because the teaching workers turned extra concerned within the analysis course of. Concerns about maturity appear to extend beyond the Giants.
The Browns had been additionally talked about as a Sanders suitor, however they used a third-round choice on Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. The Saints also seemingly confirmed a report that they wouldn’t be pursuing the Colorado product, as New Orleans used a second-round choose on Louisville’s Tyler Shough.
There may be one clear QB-needy squad that might nonetheless choose Sanders. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers stay an choice for the prospect, because the group is assured Sanders might serve “as a distributing level guard in its offense.” Fowler provides that the Steelers have additionally achieved intensive work on Ohio State’s Will Howard.
The Steelers are nonetheless awaiting a decision on Aaron Rodgers, however proprietor Artwork Rooney II said that the veteran free agent desires to play in Pittsburgh. Even when a signing involves fruition, the Steelers would nonetheless be a pure touchdown spot for rookie QBs. The staff’s present QB depth consists of Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, so the entrance workplace could possibly be searching for an improve for each now and the long run.
