Shedeur Sanders’ last hope of going in the first round passed when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Oregon DT Derrick Harmon at No. 21 overall. Little did anyone know that would be just the beginning of his jaw-dropping slide, with five QBs going before him. When will Sanders finally come off the board?
5 NFL Draft Projections for Colorado Football QB 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. The Rams’ next pick is No. 127 in the fourth round.
New York Jets
Justin Fields is the QB — for now. The Jets could use some competition behind Fields, and Prime Time’s son was built for the New York lights. Of course, the rest of the roster has wholes, but none is bigger than securing the future of the franchise. Whether it’s Fields or Sanders, the Jets would do well by taking the Colorado QB on Day 3.
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, although they opted to pass on him with both of their third-round picks (Nos. 98 and 99). 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 did so once pick again in Round 3. That likely means Aaron Rodgers will be their next QB, but perhaps they target Sanders on Day 3.
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.
Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones shouldn’t preclude the Colts from taking a QB of Sanders’ caliber. Does he come with some Louis Vuitton-levels of baggage? Yes, but he’s also an assassin with the football, able to anticipate better than most in the class.
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.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
