As the 2025 NFL Draft quickly approaches, Mel Kiper Jr is in full gear as he’s preparing for the draft. On a very recent episode of First Take, Kiper Jr spoke about Shedeur Sanders skills. In a recent mock draft put out by Kiper, he ranked Cam Ward higher than Sanders.
It’s no secret that Sanders and Ward will likely be the first couple quarterbacks drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft class, but both will be likely be within the top five picks. So, what did Kiper Jr. say about Sanders skills?
Mel Kiper Jr. Talks Up Shedeur Sanders’ Skills, Ranks Cam Ward Higher in Mock
Kiper Jr. highlighted Sanders positive attributes in several mock drafts and televised interviews. Recently, Kiper spoke about some of the criticism Sanders receives online from a lot of people.
“I get a little tick faster in terms of getting the ball out,” Kiper said on ESPN’s Get Up, responding to a common criticism Sanders has faced.
.@MelKiperESPN ranks Shedeur Sanders over Cam Ward as a better NFL quarterback 👀
“He dealt with NFL conditions. … You can win big in the NFL going about your business like Shedeur Sanders does.” pic.twitter.com/qqY7cnhpAW
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 18, 2025
“You can’t take sacks in the NFL. You’re behind the sticks and you’re in those 2nd and long, third and long, it’s over. You’re giving up drives, and you’re only getting so many drives in the National Football League, right? So, you’ve got to make them count.”
“Shedeur’s got to improve in that area, but make throws when you’re being pressured, be able to manage a game, and not turn it over? He didn’t. The interception numbers were low. The accuracy was incredible.”
“Shedeur Sanders, what’s he saying, I just want to come into the NFL and lead a football team,” Kiper added. “So, I think this whole Deion-Shedeur stuff is overhyped, it’s not accurate. Shedeur Sanders is all about winning, he’s a tremendous game manager, and I think he’s a hell of a quarterback.”
“He dealt with NFL conditions. … You can win big in the NFL going about your business like Shedeur Sanders does.” Kiper spoke very highly about Sanders despite ranking Ward higher in the latest 2025 mock draft.
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Kiper now has Ward going No. 1 to the Tennesse Titans. He has Abdul Carter going at No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns, and has Sanders going No. 3 to the New York Giants. The only other quarterback who Kiper has going in the top 10 is Jaxon Dart at No. 9 to the New Orleans Saints.
While it remains to be seen how the 2025 NFL Draft actually plays out, one thing we know for sure is that Ward and Sanders are indeed the top two quarterbacks of the draft class, with no clear-cut third remotely close to them.
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