In what became one of the most unexpected storylines of the 2025 NFL Draft, quarterback Shedeur Sanders saw his stock plummet from a projected first-round selection to the 144th overall pick. ESPN analyst Matt Miller, one of the earliest voices to warn of such a slide, believes the outcome was less surprising than it appeared — and largely self-inflicted.
Miller shared his insights during a recent episode of the Awful Announcing Podcast with host Brandon Contes, covering a range of topics from his career at ESPN to how he constructs mock drafts. However, it was the topic of Sanders that drew the sharpest commentary.
According to Miller, Sanders’ draft tumble was not about his talent alone, but rather the mismanagement of his pre-draft preparation and decisions. “I didn’t think they handled the process well,” Miller said. “That’s not just hindsight.” He pointed to two major red flags: Sanders choosing not to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine and his withdrawal from the East-West Shrine Game, despite accepting an invite — a move that violated a new NFL rule requiring participation once invited.
Miller noted that he had voiced these concerns on NFL Live before the Combine, receiving criticism at the time for his assessment. “People were not happy with me,” he said, referencing backlash he received after ESPN shared the segment. “But I thought it would hurt him. And it did.”
Beyond process missteps, Miller suggested that Sanders may have been overrated as a player to begin with. “Based on the talents and the tools he has, he was not a top two or three player in this draft class,” he stated. He criticized Sanders’ camp for approaching the draft as if he were a guaranteed top-three pick, with little openness to outside feedback or reevaluation. “The NFL will humble anyone,” Miller added.
While some may question whether NFL teams fairly evaluated Sanders, Miller’s analysis aligns with other reports that painted a concerning picture of the quarterback’s pre-draft behavior. These include claims that Sanders skipped production meetings while at Colorado and failed to impress teams during interviews.
Now a member of the Cleveland Browns, Sanders faces the uphill task of reshaping his public image and earning the trust of his new coaches and teammates. His journey to NFL relevance may have gotten off to a rocky start, but with the right adjustments, the next chapter is still his to write.