Shedeur Sanders receives first-round cold shoulder at NFL draft

In a first round when nine defensive linemen were drafted, NFL teams found a different way Thursday night to disrupt the quarterback.

They ignored him.

Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, once widely predicted to go first overall, instead was bypassed 32 times, even as his college teammate was selected almost immediately.

Two-way Heisman winner Travis Hunter, who doubles as a wide receiver and cornerback, went second overall after the Tennessee Titans made Miami quarterback Cam Ward the No. 1 pick.

It appeared as if Hunter was headed for Cleveland, but Jacksonville made a trade with the Browns to move up three spots and grab him.

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Earlier in the week, Browns general manager Andrew Berry had likened Hunter to two-way Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Evidently, the Jaguars agree.

“There are players that you can target and acquire that alter the trajectory of a football team,” said first-year Jaguars GM James Gladstone on the team’s YouTube show. “There are very few, and it’s rare to be able to target and prioritize a player who can alter the sport itself. And Travis is somebody that we view has the potential to do that.”

Colorado recently retired the numbers of both Hunter and Sanders, the son of Hall of Famer and Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders.

More than 200,000 fans attended the first round of the NFL draft outside Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Thursday. (Jeffrey Phelps / Associated Press)

For the NFL it was a historic night from the start, as this was the first draft held in Green Bay, and an estimated 205,000 people gathered in front of the giant stage that faced Lambeau Field. Commissioner Roger Goodell teetered out on a bicycle — the type of beach cruiser Packers players ride around training camp — and the boos for him (another tradition) were quieted when a group of Green Bay legends pedaled out behind him.

“You can’t write the history of the NFL without talking about the Green Bay Packers,” Goodell said.

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Ward wasn’t the only quarterback selected. The New York Giants, who drafted Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter third overall, traded back into the first round to grab Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart, surprising many people who thought the Giants were coming back to secure Sanders.

Meanwhile, the Chargers got a bruising running back in North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, and the Rams made out like bandits in a trade with Atlanta, bailing out of the 26th pick in exchange for the Falcons’ second-rounder — the Rams didn’t have a selection in that round — and a first-rounder in 2026.

Two former Servite High players went in the first eight selections: Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham (Cleveland at No. 5) and Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan (Carolina at 8).

Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham, who attended Servite High School in Anaheim, hugs NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected fifth overall by the Cleveland Browns. (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)

There was a lot of focus with the big men up front, with nine defensive linemen — beginning with No. 3 pick Abdul Carter of Penn State — and eight offensive linemen selected.

Pete Carroll, new coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, picked up the most coveted running back in Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 pick and highest-drafted player in Boise State history.

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The coach posted a meme of Marshawn Lynch, his old running back in Seattle, on X and wrote, “We’re fired up!! RAAAAIIIDDDEERRRSS!!”

The Packers delighted hometown fans by finally using a first-round pick on a receiver for the first time since 2002, selecting Texas wideout Matthew Golden, who covered 40 yards in a scorching 4.29 seconds at the scouting combine. When Golden took the stage, there was a roar of cheers and fireworks exploded over the city.

Golden told reporters that he had an idea when he encountered Packers GM Brian Gutekunst that he might be headed for Green Bay.

“Man, I knew once I shook his hand, something just told me they’re going to come get me,” the receiver said.

The Chicago Bears are not popular in Packers country, but clearly bear hugs are, as Goodell was repeatedly enveloped in python-like embraces by just-drafted players.

Among the projected first-round picks who didn’t hear their names called were Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, and edge rushers Mike Green of Marshall and Donovan Ezeiruaku of Boston College.

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Sanders declined his invitation to attend the event and instead watched from a private draft party in Texas. For the occasion, he wore a gem-encrusted gold necklace with a shimmering chest plate bearing his “Legendary” brand. For the opening round, at least, legendary was sedentary.

Naturally, Sanders sounded understandably deflated when he stood at the end of the night and delivered a pep talk to his family and friends, one posted on social media.

“All this is is of course more fuel to the fire,” he said, having endured the kind of draft slide reminiscent of that endured by quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Brady Quinn and Geno Smith.

“Tomorrow’s the day, and we’re going to be happy regardless.”

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