The Colorado Buffaloes produced two of the most intriguing rookies in the 2025 NFL Draft, with Travis Hunter selected No. 2 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Shedeur Sanders chosen in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. Both made their NFL debuts this weekend, but which one delivered the better preseason performance?
Breaking Down Shedeur Sanders and Hunter’s NFL Preseason Debuts
In his preseason debut, Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Hunter played two offensive and three defensive possessions against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 2024 Heisman Trophy-winner caught both of his targets for nine yards.
On defense, Hunter lined up at cornerback for eight snaps but was not targeted. Even so, he showed smooth footwork and fluid coverage skills.
Travis Hunter makes his first catch of the preseason 👀 pic.twitter.com/6pf9WeQpbh
— Kickr Games (@KickrGames) August 9, 2025
Sanders saw much more action for the Cleveland Browns in his preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, playing the entire first half and part of the third quarter. The former Colorado quarterback completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, adding 19 rushing yards.
zipped it right in there#CLEvsCAR on NFLN, @WEWS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/wQo5ehWbV2
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 9, 2025
While it’s difficult to compare the two since they play different positions and Sanders had significantly more snaps, Sanders stood out more statistically speaking in their NFL debuts.
What Sanders and Travis Hunter’s Preseason Debuts Could Mean for Their NFL Careers
These two players were stars at the college level, and the preseason offers them a chance to adjust to no longer being the most dominant player on the field in the NFL. While Hunter didn’t put up eye-catching numbers, he looked every bit the part of the No. 2 overall pick in his limited action.
For Sanders, the preseason debut carried even greater importance. The young quarterback is battling for a roster spot with the Browns and competing against four other quarterbacks for the starting job in Cleveland.
His performance against the Panthers should strengthen his case as a legitimate contender for the starting role and was a crucial step in proving to both the organization and the NFL media that he belongs in this league.
Of course, preseason is still just preseason, and a true evaluation of both Hunter and Sanders will only come once they face full-strength NFL opponents in the regular season.
Even so, both players made the most of their opportunities, and early signs suggest that their college stardom is beginning to translate to the professional level.
Time will tell if Sanders and Hunter prove to be the real deal in the NFL. Still, both delivered solid performances in their debuts, putting themselves in a good position for the rest of the preseason and heading into the regular season.
