ESPN faced a barrage of criticism from viewers as their NFL Draft analysts focused on Shedeur Sanders during the announcement of Cam Ward’s selection. Elsewhere, dad Deion’s reaction to his son’s slide was caught on camera.
The 2025 NFL Draft kicked off Thursday night, with the Tennessee Titans making the first overall pick, choosing Ward, a decision that had been anticipated since Week 18 ended in January. Yet, instead of highlighting Ward’s potential impact on the Titans, ESPN’s coverage—slammed throughout the evening—zeroed in on the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns to secure the No. 2 spot, and Sanders’ unexpected drop in the draft.
The Jaguars’ move to snag Travis Hunter was certainly newsworthy, given Hunter’s status as a marquee player, but ESPN’s handling of the Ward-Sanders situation drew ire for overshadowing Ward’s moment.
In the moments leading up to the Titans’ announcement, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Louis Riddick were caught up in a two-minute discussion about Sanders, who would later experience one of the most dramatic falls of the draft, not being picked until after the first round.
Fans expressed their frustration online, with one commenting, “That was pathetic. Nobody cares about a 20th pick when the 1st pick is coming,” while another viewer switched channels, stating: “That’s when I switched over to the @nflnetwork.”
“I get talking about the trade because that was shocking and major news for a once in a generation, unicorn player,” one fan said. “The Sanders thing, though? Everyone and their mother knew Ward was going first. No need to pretend.”
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In a strategic move, after choosing Abdul Carter with the third overall pick, the New York Giants traded up to snatch Jaxson Dart at No. 25 in the first round.
Dart racked up experience with 45 college games and 41 starts, hurling 276 completions on 398 attempts for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns against a mere 6 interceptions just last season, earning him first-team All-SEC honors.
Meanwhile, the anticipation continues for Sanders. With two early second-round selections and a gap at quarterback, the Cleveland Browns might secure Sanders posthaste during round two.
A titan in the 2024 college football season for Colorado, Sanders impressed with 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns on an unrivaled 74.2 percent completion rate. Raking in accolades, he secured the prestigious Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, bestowed to the country’s top upperclassman quarterback annually, and bagged the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year title.
However, during his two-year stint with the Buffaloes, Sanders was sacked 94 times. This not only raises concerns about him taking big hits but also suggests that the 22-year-old may hold onto the ball for too long.
Despite this, it appears that the negative comments resonated with some franchises, causing Sanders to slide out of the first round. The second and third rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft are scheduled for Friday, April 25.
