After an otherworldly start to his FBS career with the Colorado Buffaloes, talented quarterback Shedeur Sanders is beginning to garner significant national attention as a 2024 NFL Draft prospect. While his declaration is far from guaranteed at this early point in proceedings, the true junior already appears as a genuine first-round quarterback contender in multiple mocks.
Shedeur Sanders Mock Draft: Colorado QB in Round 1 of Latest PFN Mock Draft
When you set alight the college football world in your debut at the highest level, there’s an inevitability that NFL projection follows. After tearing up TCU in Week 1 and nailing Nebraska in Week 2, Colorado quarterback Sanders’ is in the midst of that next-level attention.
In addition to being described as “a guaranteed high first-round pick” by ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, who enthused about his accuracy and “unflappable” game management, Sanders appeared in the first round of the latest mock draft by Pro Football Network.
In the one-round 2024 NFL Mock Draft by analyst Owain Jones, Sanders is paired with the Las Vegas Raiders, who are projected to have the fifth overall pick next April. Josh McDaniels’ team has Jimmy Garoppolo under contract through 2027 and recently drafted Purdue standout Aidan O’Connell, but another failed season could lead to adding a big name under center.
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That big name could be Sanders, who is earning everything from Heisman Trophy consideration to NFL Draft attention following his transfer from Jackson State. As PFN’s Jones explains, his ability to effortlessly adapt to a jump in competition level has been one reason for his early ascent in mock drafts.
“Transferring to Colorado, Sanders had to prove that he could maintain the same level of performance as he put together at Jackson State. He did that and then some. If he can consistently put together performances like we saw in Week 1 against TCU, his draft stock will skyrocket.”
“Sanders possesses an incredibly strong arm and decent athleticism,” PFN Draft analyst Jones offers his scouting appraisal on the Colorado quarterback. “He has a good enough build to hold up in the NFL while having excellent accuracy, poise, and decision-making.”
Sanders Transfer has Transformed Colorado
Unsurprisingly, Sanders has begun to populate mock drafts even before we’ve hit the midway point of September. Quarterbacks are viewed as the transformative piece for failing NFL franchises where the NFL Draft is concerned.
Right now, there isn’t a more transformative QB in college football than the Colorado standout.
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It’s been called the “Deion Effect,” and there’s no doubt that former FSU legend and College Football Hall of Famer Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders has not only revolutionized college football with his attitude and approach to the transfer portal, recruiting, and the media but he’s instantaneously transformed Colorado from a team rooted to the basement of college football.
Last fall, the Buffaloes went 1-11, finishing the year with a 1-8 Pac-12 record and a different head coach to the one they started with following the midseason dismissal of Karl Dorrell. The program ranked 127th out of 131 for scoring offense and plum last in the nation for defense.
They couldn’t move the ball on offense, they couldn’t stop anyone moving the ball on defense.
While the “Deion Effect” is clearly helping Colorado return to national relevancy, it’s extremely unlikely that the early return on the Buffaloes investment in one of the most enigmatic head coaches in college football would be as significant without his son and quarterback, Shedeur.
Through Week 2 of the college football season, Sanders leads the nation with 451.5 passing yards per game. Only Hawaii quarterback Brayden Schager has more passing yards than the Colorado QB, and the Rainbow Warriors passer has the benefit of an additional game and Timmy Chang’s high-volume passing attack to pump up his yardage numbers.
Under the national spotlight, Sanders has been cool, calm, creative, consistent, charismatic, and commanding as he has surgically carried Colorado past two big-name opponents.
There will be bigger tests to come — the Buffaloes have a brutal Pac-12 schedule — but Sanders has already transformed this college football program while creating the pathway for his NFL future.