Analysis – Ben Collins, BBC Sport
Sanders was the initial favourite to be the first overall pick in this year’s draft but became its most polarising prospect.
He played four seasons of college football, two apiece with Jackson State and Colorado, and had last season’s best pass completion rate (74.0%).
But as NFL teams stepped up their evaluation process from January, Sanders’ draft stock began to fall.
Despite his passing accuracy, at 6ft 1in Sanders is not the typical size for a quarterback and does not have elite arm strength.
NFL scouts felt he holds on to the ball too long and has not got the athleticism to extend plays with his legs when under pressure.
More red flags were raised about his demeanour in March as teams spoke with Sanders at the Scouting Combine, with one coach saying his team’s chat with Sanders was “the worst formal interview I’ve ever been in”., external
Sanders was described as “brash and arrogant”,, external as well as “unprofessional and disinterested”., external Others felt he had a sense of entitlement and had been insulated, with his father having been his head coach throughout his college career.
Deion is outspoken and said he would step in if the wrong team wanted to draft Shedeur, who is already a wealthy celebrity in his own right through NIL deals, and some teams thought it would all be too much of a distraction.
Opinion was divided on Shedeur, even within NFL teams, and on multiple occasions every single team felt that drafting him was not worth the risk.
By the time he had slid to the fifth round, Cleveland decided it was worth taking that chance.