Shedeur Sanders will be one of the players in the spotlight when the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off in late April. Will he be one of the first players off the board or will he slide in this draft?
Considered one of the two best quarterbacks in the class along with Miami’s Cam Ward, Sanders had the college football spotlight on Colorado. In 2024, Sanders passed for 4,134 yards with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions which established him as one of the top QB prospects entering the draft.
With clutch performances and eye-popping throws, Sanders also established himself as one of the more intriguing players to enter the NFL. Now, his dad Deion Sanders may have something to do with it, but Sanders’ talent can’t be ignored. With teams hungry for a QB in this draft, it is tough to imagine Sanders will fall too far down in the top 10 even if there are teams questioning his persona based on his NFL Combine interviews.
Will that be enough to deter teams from taking a shot at Sanders at the top of the draft?
2025 NFL Draft: Shedeur Sanders is an undersized, yet dynamic quarterback
When it comes to talent, Sanders has many strengths that set him apart from the rest of the quarterback class. One of those strengths is confidence. But as stated above, could that confidence be mistaken for unprofessionalism?
If Sanders were to fall in this draft, it would be due to off-field perception. On the field, there are many qualities and reasons he does have that confidence in himself. As a mobile quarterback who has showcased the clutch gene, Sanders will still be high on most draft boards where QB is a top need.
NFL Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah sees Sanders as a gifted passer when he has time to throw the ball and create.
Jeremiah writes:
“When he has time and space in the pocket, he throws from a strong platform, showcasing a compact, smooth delivery. He really keeps his left arm tucked close to his body, which aids his ball placement. He relies more on timing and anticipation than pure velocity. He isn’t a sudden/twitchy mover when pressured, and that’s part of the reason why he took so many sacks over the past two seasons. Still, the main culprit was poor protection. Despite taking some hellacious hits, he hangs in the pocket and doesn’t drop his eyes to see the rush. His toughness is unquestionable. Overall, Sanders doesn’t have elite size, arm strength or athleticism, but he can find success in an offense based on timing and ball placement.”
3 interesting NFL fits for Shedeur Sanders
Aside from his mobility and arm, Sanders is a player who will bring attention to any team that drafts him. If put in the right situation where there isn’t too much pressure on him to perform Year 1, Sanders will eventually excel. It’s just a matter of when he will get on the field. Here are 3 teams who are primed to select Shedeur Sanders in 2025 NFL Draft.
New York Giants: The Big Blue have the No. 3 overall pick and it will be hard to imagine them not selecting a QB if either Sanders or Ward are available. The Giants have been rumored in connection with veteran QBs like Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, but it appears their best shot at landing a starting QB is via the draft. Sanders would be interesting in New York because they have a No. 1 receiver in place in Malik Nabers. That potential young connection would bring excitement to the Big Apple.
New Orleans Saints: It is unlikely Sanders slides down to No. 9 with teams like the Raiders and New York Jets drafting ahead of them, but if somehow, he does or the Saints get aggressive and trade up, Sanders would be a nice fit down in the Big Easy. This is if the team moves on from Derek Carr. If the Saints continue to secure their offensive line, Sanders throwing to the likes of Chris Olave is intriguing. Drafting Sanders would also set up an interesting battle of young quarterbacks with Spencer Rattler making his case as the next Saints starting QB.
Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders just traded for Geno Smith, but don’t rule out them still drafting a quarterback if one slips to them at No. 6. Sanders has more of a chance of sliding than Ward. If he does, the Raiders will jump on the opportunity and will be willing to take a gamble. Like the Atlanta Falcons did a year ago in selecting Michael Penix Jr. despite paying Kirk Cousins big money, Smith may just be a placeholder for Pete Carroll and company. He is also a veteran who could help Sanders on and off the field. Other than that, and his natural talent, there is just something intriguing about Sanders wearing the black and silver.