The wait continues for Shedeur Sanders.
Once considered a contender to be the No. 1 overall pick, the Colorado quarterback was not selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sanders — the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders — was passed on by quarterback-needy teams including the Giants, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I’m built for whatever today may bring,” Sanders wrote on social media ahead of Thursday’s first round.
Sanders, who did not attend the draft in Green Bay, Wisc., entered the day as the draft’s most polarizing prospect.
Evaluators touted his accuracy and toughness but were less bullish on his arm strength and athleticism.
Sanders led the country with a 74.0% completion percentage, ranked second with 37 touchdown passes and took the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record last season. But he suffered an FBS-high 42 sacks and drew criticism for holding onto the ball too long.
Early in the offseason, debates raged over whether Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward was the best quarterback prospect.
But the big-armed Ward quickly established himself as the consensus top choice and was drafted first overall by the Tennessee Titans on Thursday. Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter — a college teammate of Sanders — went No. 2 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded up to take him.
Ward was one of only two quarterbacks selected in the first round. The Giants traded back into the first round and selected Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart at No. 25.
Earlier in the draft, the Giants passed on Sanders at No. 3, as did the Browns at No. 5, the Saints at No. 9 and the Steelers at No. 21.
Pittsburgh selected Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, despite losing Russell Wilson to the Giants and Justin Fields to the Jets this offseason. The Steelers have been waiting on Aaron Rodgers, who is considering his future after being released by the Jets. Mason Rudolph currently tops their depth chart.
Sanders was a four-year collegiate starter, spending his first two years at Jackson State and the last two at Colorado.
His father was his head coach at both stops.
Sanders threw for at least 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns in all four seasons. His 71.8% completion percentage over his two years at Colorado gave him the highest career mark among FBS quarterbacks ever.
He enters Friday night as the most high-profile prospect yet to be drafted. Cleveland holds the first pick in the second round.
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Louisville’s Tyler Shough are among the other notable quarterbacks still on the board.
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