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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Oliver Connolly

Shedeur Sanders’s fall exposed the cruel heart of the NFL draft industry

Several QB-hungry teams passed on the chance to draft Shedeur Sanders in the first round.
Several QB-hungry teams passed on the chance to draft Shedeur Sanders in the first round. Photograph: Justin Casterline/Getty Images

The NFL draft can be cruel. Shedeur Sanders, a polarizing prospect in a weak class whose profile was magnified by the fact that he is the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, had to sit and wait for his name to be called in Thursday night’s first round. He waited. And waited. By night’s end, Sanders had fallen out of the first round entirely.

Only two quarterbacks were selected on Thursday. After Miami’s Cam Ward was selected No 1 overall, the QB-needy teams at the top of the board opted to punt on quarterbacks in favor of chasing defensive studs or linemen who could protect their eventual starter.

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