NFL insider Josina Anderson reported in March that one quarterbacks coach from a team drafting inside the top seven said Sanders came across as “brash” and “arrogant” during his interview. According to The Ringer's Todd McShay, teams felt that Sanders didn't have a "professional approach" in interviews.

Pre-draft chatter about prospects can be strategic. Teams that like a player (and hope to draft him) will be inclined to traffic in negativity. Teams that don't like a player (and hope someone above them will pick him) like to fuel a player's hype.