Miami product Cam Ward has recently appeared to emerge as the outstanding quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. Some, though, still believe that Shedeur Sanders is the better overall prospect.
In a recent article by Aaron Schatz of ESPN, one area of Sanders’ game was noted as falling significantly short of Ward’s level.
Shedeur Sanders’ Lack of Mobility Could Limit His Ceiling in the NFL
In Schatz’s article, which ranked the 2025 quarterback class’s NFL projections, it was suggested that Sanders’ inefficiency on the ground anchors his outlook. Despite being more accurate than Ward, Sanders’ future success in the NFL was ranked less likely than the Miami product’s.
“Sanders was more accurate than Ward, but his minus-0.5 rushing yards per attempt in 2024 (minus-0.6 in his career) worked against his superior accuracy. If Sanders’ projected draft position were the same as Ward’s, their QBASE projections would be closer. But it’s important to note that in the most recent classes (from 2018 to the present), mobile quarterbacks like Ward have performed better in the NFL.”
Sanders faced relentless pressure in the pocket in 2024, and his reluctance to give up on plays saw him sacked 42 times. That number is almost double the amount of times that Ward was brought down in the backfield. But while those sacks contributed to Sanders’ yards-per-carry average, it doesn’t hide his lack of athleticism.
Ward was sacked 38 times in 2023 and 48 times in 2022 but maintained a positive average yards-per-carry rate throughout his college career. Sanders, meanwhile, posted negative rushing averages in three of his four collegiate seasons.
Sanders’ PFSN Draft Profile Raises Familiar Concerns
It’s not just ESPN’s projection model that appears to be put off by Sanders’ athletic inefficiencies. The player’s PFSN Draft Profile suggests that his athletic limitations may prevent him from becoming one of the league’s better quarterbacks.
“There’s some mental development that needs to take place for Sanders. He’s shown that he’s capable of making full-field reads, but he tends to play Superman when he doesn’t have the raw physical talent to make that work.
“His 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.”
While crediting Sanders with the ability to have a successful career in the NFL, the projection does pour cold water on the idea of him transforming a franchise. Though there remains a great deal of hope for Sanders among many factions of the media, there is just as much doubt.
The lack of consensus regarding the player’s ability makes him one of the most intriguing players in the draft, as does the lack of clarity regarding which team he’ll represent.