Shedeur Sanders is one of the best quarterback prospects in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, though he’s certainly had his fair share of ups and downs in the pre-draft process.
He’s dealt with questions about his NFL readiness, as well as a bizarre ball-patting controversy that took the internet by storm following Colorado’s pro day. Now, just a few weeks out from the draft, he’s become the most hotly debated prospect in the class.
Super Bowl-Winning Guard Defends Shedeur Sanders From Critics
Appearing on FS1’s Breakfast Ball, Mark Schlereth — a three-time Super Bowl champion who won Lombardi trophies as a guard with the Washington Commanders and Denver Broncos in the 1990s — came to Sanders’ defense, suggesting that draftniks spend too much time evaluating traits that don’t matter.
“All I hear is, ‘Well, he doesn’t have the requisite arm talent or athletic ability.’ Did Tom Brady have the requisite athletic ability? Did Peyton Manning have the requisite athletic ability? Arm talent doesn’t mean anything to me. Are you accurate? … Shedeur is one of the most accurate QBs [in the draft],” the former offensive lineman explained.
“You cannot be accurate throwing the football if you’re not on time throwing the football. And you cannot be on time if you’re not reading the defense and understanding who you’re putting in conflict and where you’re throwing the football.”
Schlereth wrapped the segment by adamantly stating that Sanders, assuming he works with a competent offensive coordinator in the pros, will be able to improve on his processing speed and throw times.
Sanders is coming off a dominant season, leading the Big 12 in completion rate (74.0%), passing yards (4,134), and passing touchdowns (37). He’d be a dynamic addition for any team looking for a franchise QB.
It’s hard to imagine him slipping all the way down to No. 21, though perceptions of him have been changing recently. In PFSN’s most recent seven-round mock draft, Sanders is projected to fall all the way to the second round. Juxtapose that with another recent two-round mock draft where Sanders is slotted in at No. 9 to the New Orleans Saints, and you have many possible outcomes for the Colorado product on draft night.
In PFSN’s scouting report on the QB, the 23-year-old is commended for his toughness and accuracy from the pocket, as well as his ability to make plays on the fly. However, Jacob Infante does warn of his lackluster throwing velocity and tendency to hang onto the ball too long.
“Shedeur Sanders’ arm, though acceptable, isn’t particularly special. He’s not a statue in the pocket, but his athleticism is average. These issues can see him try too hard to extend plays that he simply can’t make, resulting in sacks or poor throws,” Infante explains.
“Compared to the quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft, I would argue Shedeur Sanders would come in seventh as a prospect, ranking behind each of the six quarterbacks selected in the first round. This might make him more of a Day 2 talent, but the 2025 NFL Draft has a severe lack of high-end quarterback value.”
Sanders isn’t a can’t-miss prospect by any means, but his production and leadership skills speak for themselves. All it takes is one franchise to agree with Schlereth’s opinion to make him one of the first prospects off the board on draft night.