Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft is in the books — and it was a wild one. A number of teams came away with players who fit their organizational needs and provide a spot for the player to be successful.
But on the flip side, several players remain on the board with significant questions as to why they’ve fallen — with polarizing QB Shedeur Sanders squarely among them.
Players Left With Question Marks Following Round 1 of the NFL Draft
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Once considered a potential No. 1 pick in this draft, Shedeur Sanders failed to hear his name called at any point in the first round despite several QB-needy teams making their selections.
Among them, the New York Giants — who ended up with two picks in the first round — took a different QB in Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart with the 25th overall pick. It was a move that would have seemed inconceivable just a month ago, but after reports surfaced of Sanders’ lackluster interview sessions at the NFL Combine, it doesn’t come as a complete surprise.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were believed to be a potential landing spot as well, but they opted to select Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.
As we reevaluate things heading into Day 2, it’s still difficult to see where the former Buffaloes’ signal-caller could end up.
He could go as soon as No. 33 or No. 36 to the Cleveland Browns, who could stand to add a young QB alongside three veterans. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the 37th pick but they recently traded for and signed QB Geno Smith to a contract extension. The New Orleans Saints at No. 40 are reportedly in the market for a QB but seemed more interested in Dart than Sanders.
The Steelers don’t have a second-round pick, so they’d have to trade up if they were to select Sanders.
Prior to the first round kicking off, Sanders posted a simple statement to his X account, saying “I’m built for whatever today may bring.”
I’m built for whatever today may bring
— Shedeur Sanders (@ShedeurSanders) April 24, 2025
Unfortunately for him, he may have to endure another night of uncertainty.
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Burden came into the 2024 season as a sure-fire first-rounder as he displayed all the tools — separation, hands, versatility — that NFL franchises covet at the receiver position.
Yet, he’s still on the board heading into Day 2 of the NFL Draft after greatly disappointing last season with the Tigers.
A year after catching 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns — including being named an AP second-team All-American — Burden amassed just 61 catches, 676 yards, and six touchdowns last fall. His final college game ended with him catching one pass for 11 yards.
The downfall stemmed from a couple of different reasons.
Schematically, Burden wasn’t asked to do as much in terms of different routes on the route tree. Due to this, the extra focus on him from defenses completely shut him out of the game in numerous contests.
Brady Cook, Missouri’s QB, also had a down year compared to 2023. In turn, that brought Burden’s numbers down in a big way.
In the end, Burden’s regression in 2024 proved extremely costly, as he’s missing out on millions of dollars. While it’s more than likely he’ll hear his name called early on Friday, it’s worrisome that every team in the league thought better about selecting the former Missouri pass catcher with their first pick.
Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Green is the classic example of a player who slid on draft night due in large part to off-the-field issues.
Beginning his career with the Virginia Cavaliers, Green lasted only one season before leaving the program due to sexual assault allegations. He was also accused of sexual assault in high school.
While he has denied those allegations and, to date, nothing has come about legally, it has put a major stain on Green’s draft stock and pro career — despite his first-round talent.
Green led the nation in sacks in 2024, tallying 17 with the Thundering Herd. He rose up draft boards even more after impressing at the Senior Bowl, where he showed his true talents while taking the field against Power 4 prospects.
Additionally, he shut down any sort of “lack of completion” arguments when he posted three of his sacks against the Virginia Tech Hokies and Ohio State Buckeyes early in the season.
With that in mind, it seems like the sole purpose of Green’s fall is his off-the-field concerns — leaving much debate about how much further he could drop in Round 2.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Another prospect who was initially mocked to go in the top-five prior to the 2024 season, Johnson’s name wasn’t called during the first round. The reasoning clearly stems from a knee injury that kept him out of the NFL Combine and Michigan Pro Day. He only played in six games for the Wolverines before being injured.
Rumors had spread that Johnson, who is expected to be fully recovered by the time training camp begins, ran a subpar 40-yard time in training. For whatever reason, that sentiment leaked out to NFL teams — and they are staying away from the Michigan corner.
KEEP READING: Top 300 Prospects — Get Your Free Printable 2025 NFL Draft Big Board
Johnson’s talent can’t be denied, as he was a two-time All-American in three seasons with the Wolverines and showed a playmaking ability with the ball in his hands, turning three of his nine interceptions into pick-sixes.
A positive for Johnson, cornerback is a position of need for several teams in the top half of the second round. Due to his sheer talent, it’s unlikely he falls any further — but similar to each of the other three players, it’s a costly plummet for the former All-American.
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