Likely Shedeur Sanders’ last hope of going in the first round passed when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Oregon DT Derrick Harmon at No. 21 overall. When will Sanders finally come off the board?
5 Potential NFL Draft Landing Spots for Shedeur Sanders
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams were the last team remaining in the first round that even had an inkling of taking a QB, with Matthew Stafford being 37 years old. But after trading back with the Atlanta Falcons, Sanders’ dream of being a first-round pick was crushed.
Nevertheless, he could benefit greatly from sitting behind the Super Bowl champion and learning from Sean McVay’s offensive tutelage.
Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson was a failed experiment, and there are no other starter-level QBs on the roster. Sanders would not only revive the franchise’s hopes — which have been dashed since the Baker Mayfield days — but he could thrive in Kevin Stefanski’s timing-based offense.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders took Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 overall. They could complete their backfield of the future by taking Sanders if he slips to the No. 40 pick. Geno Smith is the starter for now, giving Sanders all the time he needs to acclimate to the NFL.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers passed on Sanders in Round 1 and didn’t pick again until Round 3. That likely means Aaron Rodgers will be their next QB, but perhaps they trade up to take the long-term option.
Rodgers may not be the biggest fan of such a move, but at this point in his career, he shouldn’t have that much of a say.
New Orleans Saints
Sanders to the New Orleans Saints was all the rage toward the end of the pre-draft process, and it could still come true in Round 2.
Derek Carr’s injury is clearly serious, so there is a path to playing time early. Placing Sanders in a competition with Spencer Rattler should also allow the best QB to win, which is the best-case scenario for the franchise.
Shedeur Sanders Scouting Report
Perhaps the most polarizing prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft class, Shedeur Sanders comes in as our QB2. There’s no disputing Sanders’ production or his pedigree. The debate comes within his projection.
Sanders makes his money with accuracy, confidence — a product of his processing and pre-snap ID skills — and composure, and his arm is more than good enough. But he’s not a high-level athlete or creator and his arm isn’t quite elite.
Sanders also has a tendency to drift in the pocket and play light on his feet, which can be harmful at times. A potential pro comparison for Sanders is Brock Purdy — the 2022 seventh-rounder who grew into a Pro Bowl passer with the San Francisco 49ers.
KEEP READING: Top 300 Prospects — Get Your Free Printable 2025 NFL Draft Big Board
He is a bit undersized and unequipped with elite talent, but with his accuracy, ID acuity, and gamer mentality, he can be a very good NFL starter in a system that offers support.
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