Takeaways From One Of The Most Iconic Draft Nights in NFL History

With one of the most historic falls in the history of the NFL draft and several major trades that switched up what everyone expected, this year's NFL draft will go down as one of the most iconic drafts of all time. 

Shedeur’s Fall

Before the draft, former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was a heavy favorite to be picked in the first round, with some even mocking Sanders to go to the Giants at pick number 3. 

But after the first night, Sheduer was left on the board, shocking Americans. According to Sports Illustrated, Sanders only had a 3% chance of falling out of the second round. 

But Sanders’ fall did not stop there, as he was left waiting throughout Friday night, even hearing quarterbacks who were forecasted to be picked several rounds after him get their name called before him. After the Vikings ended the third round, Sanders was set to have to wait another day to be called. 

Finally, on pick 144 (141 spots later than Sanders was projected), the Cleveland Browns selected Sanders, ending his fall.

So why did Shedeur fall? If you ask a perplexed Mel Kiper Jr, he will blame it on the NFL and their history of passing on legendary quarterbacks. This is a fair point, as historically, some of the greatest NFL quarterbacks have come from later rounds (Tom Brady was picked in the 6th round and Lamer Jackson on the Second Day). This reaction served positively for Sanders, but that was really the only reaction that suited him in that light, as the NFL's perception of Sanders was exposed to America through his fall. 

The debate over Sanders was a heavily talked-about topic because of Sanders' extracurricular activities. Indeed, he is a very good football player, but after this fall, it is evident that NFL teams do not want to keep up with his antics. Throughout his college career, Sanders was heavily criticized for his unsportsmanlike behaviors on the field and his supposed “pretentiousness” that some say come from his father Deion Sanders. 

Nevertheless, the truth behind Sanders’ fall will be revealed before the commencement of this season, and whether or not he should have been passed up will only be evident through his performance.  

Jaguars Trade Up for Hunter

Although not picked first, Travis Hunter was seen as one of, if not the best, prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hunter would likely have gotten the first call on Thursday night if it were not for the Titans' need for a franchise quarterback. 

After the Titans took Cam Ward with the first pick, the Browns traded their rights to the second pick to Jacksonville in return for their pick three picks later and a couple of other late-round picks. 

Jacksonville, a team headed by former number one pick Trevor Lawrence, is in need of a lot of help after finishing the season 4-13. Therefore, when the Jags saw the opportunity to obtain a generational player in Hunter, they took it. 

Many believe this move was brilliant for the Jaguars. Getting Hunter could solve their two biggest needs in one swipe, as Hunter played as both a cornerback and a wide receiver at Colorado. And Hunter is not just good at both of those positions, as before the draft, according to Sports Illustrated, he was labeled the best at both positions. 

This was a risky move from the Jaguars by trading up to get Hunter only a few picks before their next one, but they had the confidence to take it, leaving only time to tell if this pick will be as franchise-changing as the Jaguars think it will be. 

Steals of the Draft

Malaki Starks (S) - Pick 27 (Baltimore Ravens)

• Three-year starter in Kirby Smart’s defense (including his true-freshman year, which is unheard of at Georgia)
• As a consensus All-American, he was one of the top safeties going into the draft
• His best traits are his quick feet, outstanding athleticism, quick burst, reading the field (especially in zone coverage), and tackling (drives his feet through the tackle very well)
• His weakness is his press coverage against fast receivers, as he is slow to drop his hips
• I think this is one of the best picks in the entire draft. Like what they did with Kyle Hamilton in 2023 (which worked out very well), the Ravens went safety, and I’m not sure they could have found a better option in Starks. As a guy who mainly watches SEC, I hear a lot about Starks, and he deserves those praises, as he is a big-time safety and will slot into that Ravens defense very well. I think he has the upside to match the production Hamilton gave in his first two seasons, which would label him a big-time steal.

Cam Skattebo (RB) - Pick 105 (New York Giants)

• Skattebo was a standout running back in his last year at Arizona State, where he contributed most of the offensive production that led ASU to the College Football Playoff. His numbers in his senior year were ridiculous—1,316 all-purpose yards, 24 TDs, 5.8 YPC—but his film is where he really stood out.
• His best traits are his physicality, contact balance, power, vision, and mentality.
  
  • His contact balance is unreal and matched with his power and vision, it makes him sometimes unstoppable. There will be instances where there is barely any hole, and he will have a guy wrapped up on him, but he will shake him off, get back on balance, and break away.
  • His skills, combined with his ability to take over a game, are what make him appealing to NFL scouts. As many saw in the Texas game, Skattebo is a certified baller. He took the entire Arizona State offense on his shoulders and carried them to a comeback and what should have been a win.
• His worst traits are his lack of explosiveness and ball security (10 fumbles since 2022)
  
  • Yes, he can break tackles, but when he does, he does not have the explosiveness or speed to fly away from defenders.
• As a Giants fan, this pick was awesome to see. There are a couple of ways I could see Skattebo’s career going. He could struggle to find a spot in the lineup due to his lack of explosiveness and simply the fact that it’s harder to break tackles in the NFL. He could become an RB2/third-down running back that could prove dangerous on short-yardage scenarios, or he could become what many scouts think Ashton Jeanty will become: an all-pro running back. I think the second option is the most likely, and he would be great at it, but I would limit his potential to that. All the scouts think Jeanty will be the next Emmitt Smith, and I could 100% see that too. But, I disagree with how they are not treating Skattebo the same way. He had the same impact as Jeanty, but in a harder league. Yes, Jeanty was better, but Skattebo was not far off, and for that reason, he could be the steal of the draft.

Mike Green (EDGE) - Pick 59 (Baltimore Ravens)

• Mike Green was undoubtedly a first-round talent but fell due to off-field issues. His pass-rushing production is insane, as he led the FBS in sacks.
• His best traits are his pass rush moves (especially his spin move), crazy athleticism, closing speed, physicality, and high motor.
• His weaknesses are his small frame (which can be fixed with a good NFL meal and strength plan), lack of experience (started only one year), and the fact that he is not as productive against the run (way less physical against it as he likes to duck inside way too much)
• I love this pick from the Ravens. Mike Green is just way too good of an athlete to be picked this far back. Yes, he has some stuff to learn and some weight to gain, but he is freaky athletic and will slot into this Ravens pass rush very well, and the run defense will hopefully come with time. His biggest asset as a prospect is his ceiling. I believe he has one of the highest ceilings for any of the EDGEs taken before him. If the off-the-field stuff works out for him, he will step into this role well, and I predict will produce very well over his career, and with his upside, I could see him gaining a very large role as he progresses.

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