Ewers was the No. 1-ranked QB in the 2021 recruiting class. Caleb Williams was No. 2. Drake Maye was No. 4. J.J. McCarthy was No. 6. Jaxson Dart was No. 13. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, who some NFL personnel people I’ve talked to consider a potential first-rounder in 2026, was No. 19. Sanders was No. 37. Riley Leonard was No. 58.

Shedeur Sanders had an interesting approach to the NFL Draft process, and his approach clearly contributed to his slide to the fifth round. According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, one general manager said Sanders treated his meetings with teams ahead of the draft as if he were being “recruited,