One of the biggest questions heading into the 2025 NFL Draft is Shedeur Sanders. Once considered a potential No. 1 overall pick, his draft stock seems to be falling by the day — to the point where that early hype now feels difficult to justify.
According to one analyst, the buzz surrounding Sanders may have always been inflated, driven more by his last name than his tape. The suggestion? If Shedeur weren’t the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, his evaluation might have been viewed through a much different lens.
Kyle Brandt Believes Sanders’ Hype Might Be Due to His Last Name
Shedeur Sanders dominated headlines in college football over the past two years after joining his father, Deion Sanders, at the University of Colorado — forming a head coach and quarterback duo that everyone wanted to watch. But that connection may have overshadowed some of Shedeur’s flaws and elevated him to a level he may have never truly reached.
Kyle Brandt revealed on “Good Morning Football” that he ran a test to evaluate Sanders without factoring in his family background — and according to him, the result was a much different prospect than most people currently see.
Is there an easy way to explain the hype around Shedeur Sanders?🤔@KyleBrandt reveals a simple test in Hour 2 of the #GMFB Podcast⬇️https://t.co/2FEnnIWBvp pic.twitter.com/nyJcwC5eGD
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb)
“When I look at Shedeur now, Draft week, I put him through the ‘Shedeur Smith’ test — meaning, what if his name was Shedeur Smith, not Shedeur Sanders, and he went to let’s just say Missouri. Is this guy a top-five pick? I don’t think so,” Brandt said.
For many insiders, Deion Sanders’ influence has led to an inconsistent evaluation of his son. In several aspects, it seems the focus on his family ties has overshadowed a more sober look at his actual ceiling as a quarterback. While Shedeur does bring valuable traits and a solid floor, some believe his long-term upside might not justify a high pick in the draft.
“He doesn’t have the elite profile, the elite arm, he doesn’t have this long series of winning in college. It’s his last name, and it’s his pedigree, and it’s unique, and it’s people thinking they can catch something in a bottle and turn it into a superstar. If it was Shedeur Smith, we’re not having this conversation right now.”
In the latest PFSN mock draft, Shedeur Sanders falls to the No. 21 pick, landing with the Pittsburgh Steelers — a team he visited on a Top 30 visit and expressed genuine excitement about potentially joining. If that scenario plays out, Sanders would enter an environment led by a respected head coach, a franchise with a winning tradition, and a $33 million-per-year wide receiver already in place as a top target.
While it wasn’t the expectation heading into the pre-draft process, reports indicate that Sanders is at peace with the possibility of not being selected among the top picks — and that could actually be the best thing for his development. The young quarterback may not become a superstar, but he projects as a solid enough player to earn a team’s trust and hold down the position for years to come.
