The Philadelphia Eagles, reigning Super Bowl LIX champions, passed on quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, a decision that surprised many considering the player fell to the fifth round. With a solid roster led by Jalen Hurts, general manager Howie Roseman opted to strengthen other positions, prioritizing depth and versatility over a quarterback prospect who, while talented, raised questions about his style of play and perception of his surroundings.
Philadelphia entered the 2025 NFL Draft with an already enviable roster and no pressing needs. For general manager Howie Roseman, the key was not to fill holes, but to invest in young talent that would strengthen the team’s depth. It was a calculated decision to maintain long-term dominance.
Shedeur Sanders’ impressive chain that has everyone stunned at NFL Draft
In the end, they chose a Philadelphia native, Kyle McCord, with the 181st pick of the sixth round of the draft. In a way, some fans were surprised by the decision, as they could have gone with another name, but they decided to follow Roseman‘s strategy as the head of this great project.
Are the Eagles going with another alternative, did they ghost Sanders?
If Philadelphia had been successful, they might not have needed McCord. Before their first fifth-round pick, the Eagles were passed over by the Cleveland Browns.
A move that drew criticism, as Cleveland already had plenty of quarterbacks, but they selected him after two nightmarish days for the Sanders family. On the third day, there was talk that the Eagles might consider him, but that clearly wasn’t the case.
“I think it’s best to focus on the players we drafted,” Roseman said after the draft. “To talk about players from other teams would be detrimental to them.”
That would certainly be a big question going forward. Could it be considered a big “what if”? We’ll never know how the Eagles would have fared with Shedeur Sanders, a fifth-round pick in 2025.
But their legacy as a quarterback factory remains intact, and they will continue on that path, while the former Colorado player will have to earn a spot on his new team with the Browns.
