NFL talent evaluators were apparently less impressed than draft analysts realized. Few, if any, mock drafts had Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, or Dillon Gabriel getting picked before Sanders, but all four did.

“Thank you GOD for EVERYTHING,” Sanders posted on X during the third round.

Wherever he ends up, Sanders will make millions of dollars less than he would have if he’d been selected in the first round. If he’d gone to the quarterback-needy Steelers at No. 21 overall, he’d be in line for an $18 million contract. A fourth-round pick can expect a rookie deal worth between $4.9 million and $5.3 million.

President Donald Trump mused in a social media post that teams were “STUPID” for passing on Sanders before the second round began.

Sanders initially was rated by some draft analysts as a better QB prospect than Miami’s Cam Ward, who ultimately went No. 1 overall to Tennessee. But as the draft drew closer, concerns began to emerge.

One issue: Sanders was sacked 94 times his last two college seasons. There also were worries about his arm strength and questions about how well he would adapt to playing for someone other than his dad. And given his high profile, teams might be reluctant to pick him if they view him as a backup.

For a few moments Thursday, it appeared Sanders’ wait might be over when the Giants traded up to the 25th pick, but the team opted for Dart out of Mississippi.

The lone quarterback selection of the second round came when New Orleans took Shough, a 25-year-old who finished his college career at Louisville after stops at Oregon and Texas Tech, 40th overall.

Saints veteran quarterback Derek Carr has what general manager Mickey Loomis described as a “shoulder issue,” leaving his availability uncertain heading into offseason workouts.

The Seahawks took Milroe out of Alabama in the third round with the 92nd pick. Two picks later, the Browns selected Gabriel, who played at Oregon last year after stints at Central Florida and Oklahoma.

Cleveland had five picks in the first three rounds and has a clear need at quarterback after the team got little production out of Deshaun Watson, who will miss the upcoming season with a torn Achilles’ tendon. Gabriel joins Kenny Pickett and 40-year-old Joe Flacco in the Browns’ quarterback room.

Pittsburgh also was considered a potential landing spot for Sanders, who visited the Steelers’ facility before the draft. The Steelers’ only quarterbacks are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson following the offseason departures of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

The Steelers took Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon with the 21st overall pick Thursday. They didn’t have a second-round pick, but Sanders was still available when their turn came again in the third round.

Pittsburgh instead used the 83rd pick on Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson.

Sanders didn’t travel to Green Bay for the draft. Instead, he watched the proceedings with his family in Canton, Texas.

“Tomorrow’s the day. We’re going to be happy regardless,” Sanders said in a video posted on YouTube Thursday night.

Maybe not.

Another player regarded as a potential first-round selection had a longer wait than expected. Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, who was in the green room during Thursday’s first round, went to the Cardinals in the second round with the 47th overall pick.

A reported knee issue caused Johnson’s stock to fall.

“It’s just frustrating,” Johnson said. “I know what I’m dealing with, and I know I’m healthy and I know how my body feels. I’m just going to go out there and show that on Sundays and show everybody what they missed out on.”

The second round featured several trades.

Seattle and Miami traded up to get picks early in the round. The Seahawks chose South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori with the 35th overall pick. The Dolphins took Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea at No. 37.

Buffalo moved up 16 spots to take South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders at No. 41. The Bills dealt their 56th, 62nd, and 109th picks to Chicago while getting the Bears’ 72nd and 240th picks in return.

T.J. Sanders will have an immediate opportunity to make an impact with offseason free-agent addition Larry Ogunjobi expected to miss the first six games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

The second round also included the selection of three more players from national champion Ohio State, which had four players taken in the first round. The Buckeyes’ running back tandem went early in the second round, with Judkins followed by TreVeyon Henderson, who went 38th overall to the Patriots. Indianapolis took edge rusher JT Tuimoloau at No. 45.

Seven of the first 45 selections played at Ohio State.