As the 2025 NFL Draft enters its final day, Shedeur Sanders remains one of the most surprising prospects still available on the board.
Once projected as a potential top-five selection, the Colorado quarterback who confidently declared himself the best signal-caller in this draft class has watched three full rounds pass without hearing his name called.
Despite his impressive collegiate career and notable touchdown production, NFL teams have shown reluctance to invest an early pick in the quarterback who many analysts considered a franchise-caliber talent.
Several potential landing spots remain for Sanders as Day 3 begins, with teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Jets yet to address their quarterback situations. The Steelers, with their sturdy offensive line and solid coaching staff, could provide an ideal environment for Sanders to develop as a rookie quarterback. Other possibilities include the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys, all of which might view Sanders as a value selection with significant upside this late in the draft process.
9. Philadelphia Eagles
While Philadelphia has Jalen Hurts firmly established as their franchise quarterback, the Eagles have historically valued the quarterback position deeply. If Shedeur Sanders continues to slide in the draft, the team could make a surprising value pick in the later rounds.
The Eagles just traded away Kenny Pickett, opening a spot in their quarterback room. Adding Sanders as a developmental backup would align with Howie Roseman’s strategy of stockpiling quarterback talent.
Even with a Super Bowl victory in their recent history, the Eagles remain forward-thinking. If Sanders proves himself as a quality backup, he could become a valuable trade asset down the line. Hurts has shown maturity and confidence that wouldn’t be threatened by drafting another quarterback.
8. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals present an intriguing situation for Sanders. While they currently have Kyler Murray as their starter and Jacoby Brissett as backup, this isn’t necessarily a permanent arrangement.
Murray enters his seventh season as the Cardinals’ starter in 2025, and the team may be evaluating his long-term viability. If he doesn’t elevate the team to playoff contention this year, the organization might consider other options.
Sanders would face the challenge of initially sitting behind two established quarterbacks, but could position himself for future opportunities if Murray’s performance doesn’t meet expectations.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have focused their offseason on supporting Trevor Lawrence, but they also need to consider backup options given Lawrence’s injury history. Shedeur Sanders could serve as a significant upgrade over Nick Mullens in the second-string quarterback position while offering high-potential insurance. Sanders also has an established rapport with Travis Hunter, a new playmaker on the roster, which could create immediate chemistry should Sanders need to step in. This connection would give the Jaguars a ready-made quarterback-receiver combination in backup situations.
6. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have created an interesting quarterback situation with Daniel Jones joining Anthony Richardson in a summer competition. This open battle suggests the team might be receptive to adding a third quarterback to the mix. Shedeur Sanders could provide Coach Shane Steichen with a more traditional pocket-passing option than their current candidates. His pure passing skills might be appealing to a team willing to consider all options at the position.
5. Dallas Cowboys
Despite Dak Prescott’s established position as starting quarterback, the Cowboys have shown interest in developing young talent as backup options. In recent years, they’ve invested in Trey Lance (2023) and Joe Milton (2025) as high-potential reserves.
Adding Shedeur Sanders as a late-round selection would continue this strategy while creating an interesting connection to Cowboys history through his father, NFL legend Deion Sanders. This approach aligns with Jerry Jones’ willingness to use draft capital on developmental quarterback prospects with significant upside.
4. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams could be an ideal destination for Sanders given Sean McVay’s track record with quarterbacks needing fresh starts. With Matthew Stafford at 37 years old and approaching his career on a season-by-season basis, the team needs to consider future options. McVay has previously worked successfully with quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield, demonstrating his ability to revitalize careers. The Rams’ offensive system and receiving talent would provide Sanders an excellent environment to develop while not facing immediate pressure to start.
3. New York Jets
The Jets have focused their draft strategy on surrounding Justin Fields with talent rather than finding his replacement. However, Fields is only on a one-year contract, indicating the team views him as a temporary solution. This makes the Jets a sensible landing spot for Shedeur Sanders on Day 3 of the draft.
The Sanders family would certainly attract significant media attention in the New York market. Despite potential distractions, the value of selecting a quarterback with Sanders’ potential at this stage of the draft could outweigh concerns about the spotlight that would follow him.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers represent a potential fit for Sanders as they navigate their quarterback situation. Despite passing on him twice already, Pittsburgh has a notable vacancy at the position that could be addressed by selecting the Colorado QB on Day 3. The team has made solid draft selections so far, including Derrick Harmon and Kaleb Johnson, but quarterback remains a question mark.
Pittsburgh’s sturdy offensive line and established coaching staff could create an ideal development environment for Sanders. At this stage in the draft, the pressure would be significantly lower than for a higher selection, potentially allowing him time to grow behind the scenes.
This situation bears some resemblance to the Mason Rudolph selection years ago—a quarterback with higher internal grading who became too valuable to pass up as the draft progressed.
1. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders find themselves at a crossroads regarding their quarterback situation. With Geno Smith at age 34 leading the offense under Pete Carroll’s guidance, the team aims for immediate success. However, long-term planning might make Shedeur Sanders an attractive option at this stage of the draft.
Sanders reportedly has connections to minority owner Tom Brady, which could influence decision-making. Despite passing on him in earlier rounds, the value proposition changes significantly on Day 3. The potential reward may now outweigh the risk for a franchise that needs to secure its quarterback future.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
