Shedeur Sanders draft slide reactions: Stephen A. Smith, Patrick Mahomes call out 'crazy' fall to Day 3

Every year, some players end up falling in the NFL Draft. For the 2025 iteration of the NFL's biggest offseason event, the biggest name that has fallen to the final day of the draft is Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. 

The quarterback was once considered the second-best quarterback in this year's class. As the draft neared, he slid further down the first round in many mocks. In real life, his slide continued through the second and third rounds. 

Not only was Sanders not selected, but five total quarterbacks were also drafted in front of him. The longer he went without being drafted, the more confusion, surprise, and sometimes anger hit social media. 

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Here are the best reactions as the sports world watched Sanders fall past the third round into Day 3 of the draft. 

Shedeur Sanders draft slide reactions

Stephen A. Smith

This is a damn disgrace. How in the hell is @Shedeur not off the board, not drafted yet. Y’all still think this doesn’t have anything to do with teams hatin on @DeionSanders. This kid is a first rounder. In a different way, this is Kaepernick all over again…..being kept out. A…

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 26, 2025

Someone just texted me this message and they are absolutely correct: “This is a bad look for the NFL. This feels like Kaepernick-level collusion.” All the hard work the NFL League Office puts in to eradicate these kinds of perceptions, only to turn around and watch as the OWNERS…

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 26, 2025

Patrick Mahomes

Crazy

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) April 26, 2025

President Trump

What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness. He…

— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 25, 2025

Mel Kiper Jr. 

Mel Kiper Jr. with his biggest Shedeur Sanders rant yet after the Seahawks draft Jalen Milroe in the third round. #NFL #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/LDljNhsoMC

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 26, 2025

Adam Schefter

Through three rounds, five quarterbacks now have been drafted. But when the fourth round opens Saturday, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be the biggest name available after what has been an unprecedented draft fall.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2025

Benjamin Allbright

OK, I get not liking Sanders…but drafting Dillon Gabriel over him is bizarre

— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) April 26, 2025

Field Yates

"Frankly, I'm stunned. I don't have a good explanation for why Shedeur Sanders has not heard his name called."@FieldYates reacts to Shedeur Sanders not getting selected after round 3 of the draft. pic.twitter.com/QUgvN0Fnpo

— ESPN (@espn) April 26, 2025

Broncos head coach Sean Payton

The Broncos HC Sean Payton takes a moment to reflect on #sheduersanders draft slide.#SkoBuffs pic.twitter.com/A3ryW1uyhe

— Nick Ferguson (@NickFerguson_25) April 26, 2025

General Social Media Reaction

NFL GM's when it comes to drafting Sheduer Sanders. pic.twitter.com/frfEzy5l9L

— Bobby Mason (@325_Hawks) April 26, 2025

Bronny James was drafted higher than Sheduer Sanders

— IcyVert (@IcyVert) April 26, 2025

They’re gonna draft Bernie Sanders before Shedeur Sanders

— Andy Ruther (@AndyRuther) April 26, 2025