There was much hope that Shedeur Sanderes and Travis Hunter would be standing side by side as two of the top picks in the draft. However, when the moment arrived, their fortunes turned out to be way different. While Hunter ended up being a No.2 overall pick, Shedeur slipped through rounds, with teams after teams overlooking him. In fact, he was the victim of a cruel prank call from the Falcons’ defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s son, telling him “to wait a little bit longer,” summing up his draft misery. The Browns eventually came to his rescue in the fifth round of the draft with a message: “Prove everyone who passed on you wrong.”

For many onlookers, the slide of Sheduer down the rounds was a surprise, however, there were a few hints. Various reports pointed out how Shedeur’s behavior during the NFL Combine didn’t sit well the some of the decision makers for teams. “He’s a good person, but people didn’t like the personality,” a league source told FOX Sports. Following his pre-draft interviews with teams, a quarterbacks coach from a team drafting in the top seven described Shedeur as “brash” and “arrogant,” according to NFL insider Josina Anderson. Despite his impressive skillset, especially as a deep ball threat, skepticism around him remained. Now, Cam Newton, who did call out Shedeur before, has more to say on why Deion Sanders’s son failed to be a top pick.

Even before the 2025 NFL Draft had picked up momentum, he had a pretty clear view about Shedeur’s road to his NFL home. On January 23, 2025, he made an appearance on the ESPN podcast. There, Newton came with a harsh take on the Buffs quarterback. “The thing about Shedeur,  I am the guy that’s been pushing him to the greatness I want to see Shedeur pick early… but Shedeur also does not want to be challenged.” The main reason behind Newton’s jumping to such a conclusion? He believed that Shedeur only played in a very convenient situation, and he has only doubled down on his assessment. 

As Elite College Football shared a post on IG that had Newton’s take on the Buffs quarterback with Hunter as a comparison. The ex-Carolina Panther star shared, “Shedeur, first of all, I got a hold him accountable. Travis Hunter is what we think Shedeur is supposed to be, Travis Hunter is polished like a quarterback.” What’s his issue with the newly drafted Browns quarterback?

From being the most sacked player [52 times] in 2023, to leading with the highest completion percentage (74.1%) in FBS and in sacks taken, Shedeur proved that he likes getting challenged. He has shown that he can improve, and while he may not offer much as a running threat, his accuracy is very solid, particularly on timing routes and throws over the middle. So, what’s the reason behind this big slip down the draft?  Yes, the same old debate about Shedeur’s off-field conduct.

Newton elaborated, “Shedeur has always got this mean mug look on his face. Snobbish-looking, you know what I’m saying? I’ve met Shedeur multiple times, and I’m looking at him and I’m like, ‘Okay.’ He is just like (imitates a watch flex move).” Well, this is not the first time that Shedeur caught attention for his off-field shenanigans. That even earned him a “red flags” tag.

As NFL Rookie Watch posted, “Some NFL teams are reportedly ‘concerned’ that Sanders isn’t solely focused on football, but rather his rap career and creating a personality out of himself… One anonymous NFL GM reportedly believes there’s ‘red flags’ to Shedeur’s personality between his fiery attitude and the watch flexing.”

On the other hand, Hunter’s pre-draft interviews at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, scouts and team executives were notably impressed by his charismatic personality and professional demeanor. NFL insider Dianna Russini reported that Hunter had been “blowing [teams] away” during his interviews, highlighting his commendable character and the positive impression he left on team personnel. This was despite Hunter’s assistance on playing both sides of the ball, which was believed to be detrimental to his draft chances.

How Shedeur Sanders stumbled and Travis Hunter rose

Hunter, the ex-Buffs two-way star, landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded up to acquire him as the No. 2 pick. Before finding his new home, he had gotten a seal of approval from someone who knows him in and out.

That’s none other than Hunter’s first-ever trainer, Drew Johnson, aka Coach Drew. On April 23, on The Travis Hunter Show, he shared how his student has been an example of perfection. “It would be hard for me to not take Travis Hunter with that first pick. I love that guy. I think he’s a once-in-a-generation, once-in-a-lifetime player. He can do things that I’ve not seen people do. His stamina, the quality of kid [he is]. I’ve done some homework on him.”

At a time when it’s easier for young chaps to fall prey to distractions, the two-way star worked on himself, devoting his time in the weight room. As Coach Drew noted, “He’s already a locker room guy, not a problem. Off the field issues [are] not a problem. The playbook, and I think, just adjusting to be a pro. He already treats himself like a pro. He takes care of his body.”

Compare this to the not-so-favorable assessment of Shedeur, you can see why Hunter was able to deliver on his pre-draft hype. It will be interesting to see how their career trajectories take off from here and whether Shedeur indeed ends up proving those wrong who passed him on.