Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. A few national analysts like ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt furiously defended Sanders, claiming the NFL was simply making an example out of him due to his famous father,

The third day of the NFL draft drew a record-setting 4.3 million viewers across ESPN, NFL Network, ABC, ESPN Deportes and digital channels, as fans eagerly tuned in to see when the shocking slide of Shedeur Sanders would end.

Millions tuned in to watch the dramatic events of draft weekend, with an average of 7.3 million viewers — a 40% increase from 2024. During the draft, Shedeur fell into the fifth round, ultimately being selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th overall pick.