ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. slams NFL teams for passing on Shedeur Sanders: “It’s disgusting”

Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, few names generated more buzz than Shedeur Sanders. The former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback was widely projected as a first-round pick — or, at worst, an early second-rounder. Now, with three rounds in the books, Sanders remains surprisingly undrafted, leaving many scratching their heads. His surprising fall down the draft board has baffled analysts and fans alike, but no one has been more vocal about it than longtime ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., who delivered a fiery rant late Friday night, calling Sanders’s slide “disgusting” and demanding answers.

Mel Kiper Jr., the longtime face of ESPN’s draft analysis, unleashed a fierce reaction to Sanders’s stunning slide down the board. He made it clear that, in his view, Sanders should have been long gone by the time Day 3 arrived.
“All I can say is, I think it’s disgusting,” Kiper said passionately during the broadcast. “I don’t understand what the heck’s going on with this. Fifth player on my boards, never happened before in 47 years where a player that high has dropped this far into the fourth round at quarterback."

Kiper’s frustration only grew as he watched other quarterbacks come off the board ahead of Sanders, players he believes don't match up to Sanders’s talent level.
“Sitting there at round four, with other quarterbacks being taken who aren’t as good as Shedeur. Aren’t even close, in my opinion, in terms of accuracy, toughness," Kiper argued. "Arm strength is certainly more than good enough."
He pointed out that while Sanders may not fit the prototype some NFL teams crave — lacking a rocket arm, elite 4.6 speed, or a massive 6'3", 230-pound frame — those shortcomings don't explain the freefall.
"Outside of not (having) the rocket arm, the 4.6 speed, and the big frame, the 6'3" 230-pound frame, what is he lacking? Somebody is going to have to explain that one to me," Kiper insisted.
Also read: NFL legend Michael Irvin defends Shedeur Sanders after NFL draft snub: "This sh*t is shady"
As the final rounds of the draft approach, Shedeur Sanders’s future is still hanging in the balance. Kiper’s fiery comments have only added fuel to the fire, making this one of the most talked-about storylines of the weekend. Fans and analysts alike are left wondering how such a talented player could slip this far. No matter where Sanders ultimately lands, the questions — and controversy — around his draft-night slide won't be disappearing anytime soon.