Cam Ward. Jaxson Dart. Those were very comprehendible quarterback selections for Tennessee and the New York Giants. Shedeur Sanders had to be the next quarterback off the board, though, right?
As the soon-to-be-retired Lee Corso likes to say - not so fast, my friend. Tyler Shough went to the Saints in the second round. Then Jalen Milroe to the Seahawks in the third. For the icing on the cake, Dillon Gabriel was selected by the Browns in the third.
Not only did that leave Sanders without an NFL home as we head into Saturday's final day, but it also made Pittsburgh the only landing spot where he could start.
Why is Shedeur Sanders sliding in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Once considered an option as the No. 3 overall pick, Sanders is now a possibility for all 32 teams as a value pick and a potential successor to a current starter. How did we get here? Maybe we'll figure it out in time. But this is one of the all-time shockers I can remember watching the draft for 30-plus years.
But let's go back to the surprise of the day. Out of the QBs selected, Gabriel was the last one anyone saw coming with Sanders still on the board.
Gabriel's college legacy is undeniable. Between stints at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon, Gabriel set the NCAA record for most career total touchdowns. All told, he threw for 18,722 and 155 touchdowns. Gabriel saved his best season for last, becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist and leading Oregon to an undefeated record and a trip to the College Football Playoff. He completed an incredible 72% of his passes en route to 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Needless to say, Gabriel is productive, and he's a winner. However, regarding translating to the next level, there are questions about his arm strength. The accuracy is there, but he definitely has something to prove when it comes to the tighter windows he'll see in the NFL.
During his two years at Oklahoma, he showed prowess in the running game, which he didn't showcase as much at UCF and Oregon. As a Sooner, Gabriel rushed for 688 yards and 18 touchdowns in two years. In his other four years combined, he ran for 521 yards and 15 touchdowns.
A productive, winning quarterback with an accurate ball and adequate running ability, Gabriel now throws his hat in the ring to become Cleveland's long-awaited franchise quarterback.
Speaking of long waits, on Saturday, we will finally have the answer to the million-dollar question of this draft: where will Shedeur Sanders land? Whoever gets him will undoubtedly have a very talented player. And even if he has to wait a few years to get on the field as a starter, he can be a franchise quarterback for many years to come.