NBC’s Mike Florio believes Shedeur Sanders‘ draft slide could have been avoided with proper representation and preparation.
Sanders entered the NFL draft process without an agent. This decision left him without professional guidance during the pre-draft process.
Florio points to this as the main reason NFL teams passed on the quarterback through multiple rounds.
“Shedeur needed someone to properly prepare him for the process. Sanders decided not to hire an agent. As a result, he didn’t have the benefit of having someone who could help Shedeur as he tried to be taken as high as possible in the draft,” Florio wrote.
“The teams want players — especially at the quarterback position — who take everything about the pre-draft process very seriously. The slippage of Sanders through four-plus rounds operated as a full repudiation of how he handled himself during the pre-draft process.”
Teams weren’t impressed with Sanders’ approach to the pre-draft process. NFL organizations expect quarterbacks to demonstrate professionalism during interviews and workouts.
Florio dismissed rumors about teams conspiring against Sanders. Instead, he suggests teams simply didn’t view him as a polished prospect despite his college stardom.
“There’s a time and a place to be nonchalant. The pre-draft process isn’t it. Teams want players who approach things with a businesslike demeanor. It was also important, in hindsight, for Sanders to realize once the attacks began that he needed someone in a position to push back on his behalf,” Florio said.
The lack of representation became even more apparent when false narratives emerged about Sanders during the draft process.
Without an agent to counter negative reports, these stories went unchallenged. This allowed doubts about Sanders to spread among NFL front offices.
Shilo Sanders, Shedeur’s brother, provides a contrast. The safety only secured a contract as an undrafted free agent after hiring an agent to represent him.
Sanders’ draft experience shows how critical professional representation has become in the modern NFL. The pre-draft process involves more than just talent evaluation – it’s about managing perceptions and presenting the right image to teams.
Had Sanders worked with an experienced agent from the start, he might have avoided his draft slide entirely.
