ESPN's draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. was among those leading the coverage surrounding Sanders during the draft. Kiper was one a select few that had Sanders ranked as his top quarter

Although Ward landing with the Titans had long been a lock, much of Kiper’s draft commentary was centered on Shedeur, even after the Giants — who had done the most homework on Sanders’ son — traded back into the first round to select Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart at No. 25 overall.

ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. was criticized again for favoring Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders over others, including the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.