Stephen A. Smith calls Shedeur Sanders falling in the NFL Draft 'appalling'

NFL backmost imaginable Shedeur Sanders is the biggest question entering Thursday's NFL Draft. 

Sanders, erstwhile a campaigner to beryllium the apical prime successful this year's draft, is rumored to beryllium falling connected draught boards, according to aggregate reports.

Some reports person suggested Sanders whitethorn not adjacent beryllium taken successful the archetypal round. 

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Deion Sanders (right) with lad Shedeur Sanders connected the reddish carpet earlier the Super Bowl LIX NFL Honors astatine Saenger Theatre successful New Orleans Feb. 6, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

For ESPN big Stephen A. Smith, the conception that Sanders, 1 of the apical quarterbacks successful assemblage shot this year, could autumn retired of the archetypal circular is "appalling." 

"I'm trying to fig retired is what the hellhole is the precipitous driblet each about?" Smith said connected ESPN's "First Take" Thursday. 

"We cognize this member tin play. We cognize astir whether helium doesn't person the top centrifugal oregon the top arm. The accuracy is there. The poise is there. The pedigree is there. We spot each of these things on with his accomplishment acceptable and what he's been capable to bash connected the collegiate level, and present we are present wondering if this feline is going to beryllium a second-round pick. I find this precise appalling and precise alarming and precise disturbing."

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Stephen A. Smith connected ESPN's "NBA Countdown" acceptable astatine Intuit Dome. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

Sanders led the Big 12 Conference with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdown passes and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. In his 50 assemblage games, Sanders threw for 14,347 yards, 134 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. 

He was projected to beryllium 1 of the apical players taken and perchance the archetypal subordinate taken during and soon aft the assemblage shot season. 

However, Sanders' draught banal has travel into question successful caller weeks amid concerns astir his character. 

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An anonymous NFL manager precocious told the NFL Network Sanders was "the worst ceremonial interrogation I've ever been successful in my life." 

"He's truthful entitled. He takes unnecessary sacks. He ne'er plays connected time. He has horrible assemblage language. He blames teammates," the manager continued. "But the biggest happening is he's not that good." 

Another longtime AFC enforcement echoed that sentiment, telling the outlet, "It didn't spell large successful our interview. He wants to dictate what he's going to bash and what's champion for him. He makes you consciousness small." 

Colorado backmost Shedeur Sanders speaks during a property league astatine the NFL shot scouting harvester Feb. 28, 2025, successful Indianapolis. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Sanders expressed assurance successful a societal media station conscionable hours earlier the draught Thursday. 

"Legendary," helium posted connected X Thursday morning.

He added, "I’m built for immoderate contiguous whitethorn bring."

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