Part 2/7:
The NFL Draft is notorious for its unpredictability, but even seasoned analysts, like Stephen A. Smith and Mel Kiper Jr., were dumbfounded by Sanders's fifth-round selection. While Andrew Barry, the General Manager of the Cleveland Browns, remarked upon the team selecting Sanders due to him dropping in value, it sparked a larger conversation about drafting strategies and team priorities.
Many experts agree that when evaluating players, the best practice is to choose the highest talent available, regardless of immediate team needs. Yet, it raised eyebrows that a player of Shadur’s caliber, considered by many to be a top talent, was disregarded by all 32 teams until the fifth round of the draft.