The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching and Shedeur Sanders is one of the top prospects on the board. This is a breakdown of how Sanders profiles for the NFL and where he could potentially land.
Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Profile
Shedeur Sanders is in a battle with Cam Ward for the top quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders and Ward seem to be a level above any other quarterback in the class, according to most draft experts and voices around the league. Some experts have Sanders at the top of their draft boards but the majority have Cam Ward as their top quarterback and Sanders just behind him. Here is a look at his profile ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft:
Physical Traits/College Film
Shedeur Sanders has tremendous arm talent. He has solid good arm strength which he was frequently given the opportunity to show at Colorado. Sanders hit on a Hail Mary from midfield against Baylor last season to showcase how well he can use that arm strength in real-game situations. He doesn’t quite have the cannon of an arm that Cam Ward does which is why many have Ward above Sanders, but he has enough arm strength to be a great NFL starter.
While his arm strength could be improved, Sanders’ accuracy is top-tier. On short to intermediate throws, Sanders is about as accurate as you could hope an NFL prospect would be. Sanders can get the ball out really quick (when he wants to) and on target. He is also elite at placing the ball so that his receivers can pick up yards after the catch. He doesn’t just throw a “catchable” ball but a ball that receivers can grab and run with. Sanders can also make off-platform throws with great accuracy, something that Patrick Mahomes has made an important trait when scouting NFL quarterbacks.
Sanders’ two biggest weaknesses would be his lack of running ability and his reluctance to pull the trigger. He’s athletic and can maneuver the pocket well but he never offered much of a running threat as a college quarterback. Mobile quarterbacks have become the standard in the NFL and Sanders does not compare to Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts or even Patrick Mahomes when it comes to rushing ability.
Sanders also has the same issue as last year’s top pick in the draft, Caleb Williams, when it comes to holding on to the ball too long. In Sanders’ defense, he did not have great offensive line play during his time at Colorado, but he would often run around and try to create magic plays when pressured, leading to sacks and turnovers. Caleb Williams’ rookie season was living proof that an immensely talented quarterback can struggle at the NFL level if they try to create the same highlight reel plays that they did in college. Being a top draft pick, you typically don’t land on a roster with elite offensive line play. That means Sanders will need to be coached hard on his bad habit of holding on to the ball for too long.
NFL Comparisons
Realistic Comp: Geno Smith – Geno Smith had a rough start to his NFL career with the Jets but he eventually found a home with the Seahawks and has thrived the last several seasons. Ideally, Sanders would get to the level that Geno Smith is currently at much earlier on in his career but his current level wouldn’t be a bad one to reach. Sanders has a similar level of mobility to Smith without being able to translate that into being an elite runner.
When Sanders is on his A-game, he can stand tall in a crowded pocket and make accurate throws. However, he can also drift in the pocket and get himself into trouble with inconsistent footwork. Smith had a major turnover problem early on in his career, which still occasionally rears its head, that Sanders also has struggled with.
Ceiling Comp: Joe Burrow – If everything hits for Shedeur Sanders, he could be a Joe Burrow-type at the next level. Burrow led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns last season and Sanders has shown he can put up those gaudy numbers as well. Joe Burrow has similar negatives to his game when it comes to a lack of mobility and sack avoidance. However, Burrow is an elite NFL quarterback and if Sanders’ football IQ can translate to the next level, he has the accuracy to be a Burrow-type player.
Potential Landing Spots
At this point, I expect Cam Ward to go #1 overall to the Titans. That sets up these two teams as the most likely landing spots for Shedeur Sanders:
New York Giants – The Giants are drafting third and they are in desperate need of a quarterback. They have moved on from Daniel Jones and lack a viable NFL starter on their roster. There is a narrative out there that the Giants are going to trade for Matthew Stafford, which is picking up serious steam. They could also go after another veteran on the market like Kirk Cousins or Aaron Rodgers.
However, if they do decide to go after a quarterback in the draft, Sanders would be their best option. He is used to being in the spotlight so he would not be phased by the New York media and could thrive in that market. The Giants retained Brian Daboll to develop their next quarterback, and it’s been reported that Daboll is a big fan of Shedeur Sanders; that could be the perfect fit.
Las Vegas Raiders – If the Giants opt to go the Stafford route, the Raiders could scoop Sanders with the 6th pick. The Patriots and Jaguars sit at four and five in the draft and neither of those teams is in the market for a quarterback. That would leave Sanders available for the Raiders. Sanders would without a doubt fit the vibe of the Raiders franchise and with a new head coach in Pete Carroll, the Raiders might want a new quarterback to join their new head coach. Shedeur Sanders would pair great with Brock Bowers, who is already one of the best pass-catchers in the NFL.
