The Giants weren’t the only ones to pass on Shedeur Sanders after an extensive scouting process.
The entire NFL turned down the opportunity to pick Colorado’s quarterback deep into Friday night’s third round.
Sanders has been a controversial prospect, but his plummet past the top two rounds was a shocking and alarming drop for the confident son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
Giants GM Joe Schoen was not interested in discussing Sanders’ fall after selecting Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander with the No. 65 overall pick at the top of the third round.
“I’m not going to get into [that],” Schoen said. “You know, this is Darius’ press conference and the New York Giants, so we can talk about that if you want. But I don’t want to talk about that.”
Sanders had a bad private workout with head coach Brian Daboll, however, according to The Ringer’s Todd McShay, that may illustrate one reason the quarterback is lingering on the board.
“Shedeur didn’t have a great interview with Brian Daboll in a private visit,” McShay said on Thursday night. “An install package came in. Preparation wasn’t there for it. [He] got called out on it. Didn’t like that. Brian didn’t appreciate him not liking it.”
Daboll was asked about that report on Friday night.
“I’d say we had good meetings with all the guys who came in here on 30 visits. Quarterback meetings were productive, and we’re happy with Jaxson,” Daboll said. Then the coach changed the subject to Alexander.
“Just to go back on Darius, though…,” he proceeded.
Awkward.
Only three quarterbacks total were selected in the top two rounds of this draft deep into Friday night.
Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough went to the New Orleans Saints at pick No. 40 overall, following Cam Ward to the Tennessee Titans at No. 1 overall on Thursday night and the Giants’ Dart at No. 25.
That was it.
The Giants, having traded up for Dart on Thursday night, only had the one pick at No. 65 on Friday night. So they continued to hammer the defensive line with Alexander, a 6-4, 305-pound Senior Bowl standout whom Schoen called “freaky athletic.”
Schoen overlooked a need for more interior talent and depth on the D-line last season.
“We’ve got to do a better job stopping the run this year,” Schoen said.
Alexander spent six years in college and was second-team All-MAC last season. He turns 25 in August.
The Giants now enter Saturday night with four more selections: a fourth-rounder, a fifth and two sevenths.
