Ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine, Shedeur Sanders boldly claimed that he is here to change a franchise and culture and anyone not willing to do so should pass on him in the NFL Draft.
Shedeur Sanders Confidence Shines With Message to Potential NFL Suitors
There is no doubt about the confidence of the Sanders family, and Shedeur has absolutely backed that up this Friday, saying the team needs to change or step aside when it comes to taking him in the NFL Draft.
“You think I’m worried about what critics gonna say?”
Shedeur Sanders meets the media pic.twitter.com/y7BYYoyGgp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2025
Speaking to the media, Sanders claimed, “If you’re not trying to change the franchise and culture…don’t get me! You know history repeats itself over and over and over, and I’ve done it over and over and over so there is no question why an NFL franchise should pick me.”
The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback heads into the NFL Draft as one of the top prospects, expecting to go early within the first round as he looks to change the future for a franchise.
The 2024 season saw him lead the FBS across multiple categories as he threw for 4134 yards and 37 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions, leading the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record and their first winning season since 2016.
Sanders is a serious talent and knows that there will be pressure on him as the son of Deion Sanders, and having had his father as head coach during his college career. One thing Sanders follows his father in is his confidence in his ability and work ethic, which has aided him so far in his football career.
“You think I’m worried about what critics say or what people have to say? You know who my dad is? They hated on him, too, so it’s normal. Without people hating, it’s normal for us. We like the adversity, we like everything that comes with the name, that’s why we are who we are,” Sanders said with a beaming smile as he spoke to reporters.
MORE: Shedeur Sanders Gets Real About His Entry Into The NFL
The quarterback won’t be throwing at the combine in Indianapolis but will be there to conduct interviews with teams. He believes he has more than enough film for teams to examine, but he will be there at his Pro Day with four Colorado wide receivers who are hoping to hear their name called in late April.
Despite all the noise, Sanders has continued to back himself up and comes into the draft as one of the top two QBs of the class alongside Miami’s Cameron Ward. There have been questions over a potential medical risk with Sanders due to a fractured back in 2023. Teams will be aware, but he was still standing in the pocket and performing at a high level in 2024.
Where will Shedeur Sanders land in the NFL Draft?
There has been a real mixed bag regarding Sanders’ draft stock. Many people see him as the possible No. 1 overal pick, while others expect him to drop into the mid- or even later picks of the first round.
Our very own 7-Round NFL Mock Draft sees Sanders fall into the lap of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Pick 21.
That would be an absolute steal for Mike Tomlin and his franchise as they look to decide their QB future after Russell Wilson and Justin Fields shared the responsibility, with neither really claiming their spot as QB1.
Sanders has confidence in his ability to lead a struggling team, but the Steelers would be a nice fit.
Their solid run game and exceptional defense might give Sanders a cushion early on in his time there as he finds his feet in the NFL. He would certainly raise the floor, and Tomlin would absolutely love his mentality and work ethic.
I personally see him as a top-10 pick in the draft. Teams looking for a fresh start and to change the culture, like Sanders says, will be more than interested in that confidence.
Ward is slightly ahead of him for me, but the New York Giants at pick four, the Las Vegas Raiders at pick six, and the New York Jets at pick seven are three teams to really keep an eye on.
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All those teams have had a lot of noise regarding their ownership and quarterback issues, so that could lead them to Sanders. Whether he can single-handedly fix those franchises is asking a lot, but he has a presence about him that will undoubtedly attract fans and potential players to look to play alongside him.
The younger Sanders’ confidence is absolutely shining as always, and there is no doubt about his self-belief. Which team believes in him? We will wait and see, but one thing is for certain: he isn’t worried about what adversity he faces.
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