Shedeur Sanders experienced a surprising fall in the NFL Draft, sliding to the fifth round despite earlier projections of being a top pick. President Trump publicly criticized NFL owners for not drafting Sanders sooner, which his press secretary claimed influenced Sanders' eventual selection by the Cleveland Browns. NFL agent Leigh Steinberg, however, downplayed Trump's impact, suggesting that teams are focused and unlikely to be swayed by political figures, though he acknowledged the increased publicity. Steinberg attributed Sanders' draft slide to poor interviews and character concerns, and suggested that having an agent could have improved Sanders' preparation and draft outcome. Despite the draft slide, Steinberg believes Sanders can still succeed in the NFL, potentially contending for a starting position in his rookie year.

Shedeur Sanders, once a top NFL Draft prospect, fell unexpectedly to the fifth round, being picked 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns, attributed to poor interviews and character concerns.

President Trump criticized NFL owners on Truth Social for not drafting Sanders immediately, claiming they were 'stupid', and Trump's press secretary credited his posts for Sanders' eventual selection.

NFL agent Leigh Steinberg dismissed the notion that Trump's intervention influenced the draft outcome, emphasizing that NFL teams are focused on their choices and unaffected by political figures.

Steinberg highlighted the importance of having an agent, suggesting Sanders' decision to represent himself with his father, Deion Sanders, may have hindered his draft preparation and stock.

The increased publicity from Trump's comments may have inadvertently boosted Sanders' marketability despite not affecting his draft position directly, according to Steinberg.

Steinberg advised that Sanders could have benefited from structured interview preparations and moderating his social media presence to better align with NFL team cultures.

Despite the draft slide, Steinberg is optimistic about Sanders' potential in the NFL and believes he can compete for a starting quarterback position as a rookie.