Quarterbacks are by nature one of the most exciting and polarizing positions on the field. Perhaps no quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft is as polarizing as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. From his bloodline to his play on the field, just about everyone has a strong opinion on the dynamic signal-caller. From experts hyping him as the savior of the Tennessee Titans to others who don’t have a first-round grade on him, Sanders is going to be an interesting player to watch. After tearing it up at Jackson State and Colorado, what does the future hold for Shedeur Sanders?
Shedeur Sanders 2025 NFL Draft Profile
Height: 6′ 1 1/2″
Weight: 212 pounds
Arms: 31 1/2″
Hands: 9 3/8″
School: Colorado
Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Overview
As a composite four-star recruit in the 2021 class, Sanders had his pick of the litter. However, he initially committed to Florida Atlantic University. Then, when Deion Sanders, his father, was hired to coach Jackson State at the FCS level, Shedeur flipped to the Tigers. Naturally, he started as a true freshman alongside the top-rated recruit, Travis Hunter and the pair led the Tigers to two SWAC championships and back-to-back Celebration Bowls.
As a true freshman, Sanders made an immediate impact. In 13 games, he led the Tigers to an 11-2 record with 3,231 yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 65.9 percent of his passes. Then, in 2022, he took another step. He threw for 3,732 yards and 40 touchdowns while completing 70.6 percent of his passes. At the end of the year, Deion Sanders left for Colorado. Shedeur, along with a handful of others including Hunter, followed.
In his first season with the Buffaloes, there were growing pains. Even then, in 11 games, he passed for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns (with only three interceptions). Last year, he took another step forward in his development despite his supporting cast. He led the Big 12 with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns while leading all quarterbacks with a 74.0 completion percentage. His two-year completion percentage finished at 71.8 percent, an FBS record.
As a career, Sanders was able to elevate his teams and now, he turns to the NFL.
Strengths
- Incredibly accurate both from the pocket and on the run
- Has the mobility to overcome offensive line issues (as he often had to at Colorado)
- When rolling out, he can square up his hips and deliver a deep ball
- Confidence is no issue
- “Unequivocably the best pocket passer in the class” – Field Yates, ESPN
- Does not get shaken by hits or sacks
- Elite pre and post-snap processing
- Leads receivers and can hit them in stride
Weaknesses
- Took way too many sacks (43 in 2024)
- Offense at Colorado may have made decision-making easier with spacing and route concepts
- Doesn’t have a cannon; can hit the deep ball but wide-open receivers have had to adjust and it cost them yardage
- Needs to learn when to throw it away vs. extend and make a play
- Had a tendency to bail on clean pockets to make things much harder than necessary
- Struggled against top-tier defenses and complex concepts
Best Fits: Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints
Projection: Early First Round
Bottom Line on Shedeur Sanders
Everyone has an opinion on Sanders, that’s the territory of being Primetime’s son. Some hype is warranted, some criticism is warranted. All in all, Sanders has the ability to be a superstar in the NFL. At the same time, he has a low enough floor that could be concerning. The talent is absolutely there considering the fact that Sanders was able to be productive at both the FCS level and in the Power 4. While there could be a question of whether or not his yardage and touchdown success was due to the fact he led the Big 12 in both completions and attempts last year, he led the way in yards per attempt and yards per completion throwing to Hunter and a host of other receivers you couldn’t name.
While Sanders is not mentally shaken by taking hits or sacks, he has a bit of a tendency to welcome them. The Colorado offensive line was an issue in both years and Sanders was sacked 43 times in 2024, 18.2 percent of pressures faced. However, that number jumps to 20.1 percent against Power 4 opponents. In addition to the subpar offensive line play, he drifts in the pocket and has a tendency to lose ground rather than step up into the pocket.
All in all, Sanders is going to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Some have him going second overall to the Browns while others have him falling out of the first round. He’s a great pocket passer and can elevate an offense that needs a spark. Time will tell but it feels like he has one of the highest ceilings in the class but also one of the lowest floors among the potential franchise quarterbacks.
Main Image: Stephen Garcia/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
