On April 4, the Colorado Buffaloes will hold their pro day to give their players a chance to showcase their skills and improve their stock ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Colorado has several top prospects in this year’s class, including potential top-five picks in QB Shedeur Sanders and CB/WR Travis Hunter. Let’s break down each of Deion Sanders’ NFL Draft prospects and when they might hear their name called.
NFL Draft Prospects Participating In Colorado’s Pro Day
There are 16 players participating in Colorado’s pro day on Friday, April 4:
- QB Shedeur Sanders
- WR/CB Travis Hunter
- WR LaJohntay Wester
- WR Jimmy Horn Jr.
- WR Will Sheppard
- OL Justin Mayers
- OL Kardell Thomas
- DL Shane Cokes
- DL Chidozie Nwankwo
- DE B.J. Green II
- LB LaVonta Bentley
- S Travis Jay
- S Shilo Sanders
- S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig
- S Herman Smith III
- P Mark Vassett
Of those 16 players, how many will be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft? Let’s identify which prospects are currently projected to get drafted and see what PFSN’s NFL Draft analysts think about their potential.
Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft Projection
How highly one values Sanders likely depends on how much one prioritizes positional value when putting together a draft board. If you put a premium on the quarterback position, it’s pretty clear Sanders is a first-round value. If not, though, the decision is not so simple.
Sanders is an accurate and tough quarterback with a well-built frame and plenty of throws, hitting his targets in stride from each deep third of the field. He has a good enough arm to execute throws to targets in tight windows, and there’s a natural sense of timing that tells him where to place the ball right where only his receivers can get it.
That said, 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.
Compared to the quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft, I would argue 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 arguably has the highest floor of any quarterback in the class, and he has the tools to become a solid starter in the NFL. In the right system, he could lead a team to a playoff run. Because of average physical tools, the ceiling likely does not go much further than that. However, a respectable starting quarterback is a valuable asset in today’s game, which should see him selected with a top-10 pick come April.
Potential Landing Spot: New York Giants
PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft has Sanders projected to go No. 3 overall to the New York Giants: “The New York Giants have signed Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson, so why would they take Sanders? The answer is simple: Neither Winston nor Wilson will be the answer, and the Giants must take a swing when given the opportunity.
“I think this is a bit high for Sanders, but as we know, quarterback inflation is high. There aren’t enough options in the draft, so players like Sanders naturally get moved up. All that to say, Sanders is an accurate passer who can thrive in Brian Daboll’s offense.”
Travis Hunter’s NFL Draft Projection
Hunter enters the NFL Draft as one of the best prospects in the class, and he also profiles as one of the most intriguing players in recent memory since he legitimately qualifies as a top-five pick at two positions. He is truly a one-of-one type of NFL prospect that will spark a lot of debate for not just the media, but decision-makers at the top of the draft as well.
The question, of course, lies in what position Hunter will play at the next level and if it is a combination of the two. With that being said, before I dive deeper into his scouting report, I personally believe Hunter is better at wide receiver, and that is the position I’d draft him to play.
As a prospect, Hunter possesses below-average overall size and length but offers once-in-a-generation type of overall athleticism. He has rare quickness, speed, and burst that allow him to excel and win against most players he lines up against on either side of the ball. Furthermore, Hunter has rare instincts, ball skills and is hyper-competitive, all of which are evident in the way he plays the game.
When playing offense, Hunter is a big-play threat whenever he touches the football. He displays rare ability with the ball in his hands and has outstanding start/stop quickness and lateral agility to make defenders miss in the open field. Additionally, his speed and acceleration allow him to defeat angles and hit big plays. Hunter is not the most refined route runner and lacks the nuance in his game to set up defenders throughout the route — something that he must develop as he plays more athletic corners in the NFL.
With that being said, Hunter can create easy separation at the top of the route as he explodes out of cuts, often leaving his defender stuck in place. Hunter is a tremendous deep threat with the speed to stretch the field and the ball skills to track the football downfield.
He has the rare ability to play the football in the air and is a tremendous ball-winner, even though he has a smaller frame. Hunter has exceptional hands and can catch outside of his frame with ease. His lack of size limits his ability to break tackles as a ball carrier and also makes it difficult for him to sustain blocks down the field; however, the effort is there.
On the defensive side of the football, Hunter projects to be a lockdown cover man who can excel in both zone and man disciplines. In zone coverage, Hunter displays outstanding instincts and awareness. He can read the quarterback’s eyes while dropping back in his zone and has the quickness to put his foot in the ground to make a play on the football.
His foot quickness and hip fluidity allow him to be exceptional in mirroring route patterns in man coverage. He is able to stay in phase against most receivers and is never panicked when working down the field.
He is a playmaker at corner and has the ability to play the football and come up with interceptions. His size is a concern, however, as he lacks the mass and length to be left on an island against NFL-caliber receivers. Hunter struggles when asked to press receivers at the line of scrimmage and can easily get overpowered by bigger wideouts. He lacks the size to win at the catch point at times and will be a liability in run support as he struggles to get off blocks consistently.
To make Hunter’s evaluation a bit more murky, he’s also struggled to stay healthy throughout his collegiate career. His lack of size and the fact that he played more snaps than any player in college football makes Hunter an injury risk at the next level, and teams must come to the realization he cannot play both ways on a full-time basis in the NFL.
While many evaluators think Hunter’s ideal fit is as a full-time corner who plays a handful of offensive snaps, I think he has more upside as a full time receiver. I have less questions about his rare athleticism translating on the offensive side of the football, and I think he can be an instant game-changing player at receiver. There is no wrong answer here, however, and whichever team drafts him will surely be getting a franchise-altering talent.
Potential Landing Spot: New England Patriots
PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft has Hunter going No. 4 overall to the New England Patriots: “The New England Patriots can take many different approaches here. They will ultimately take the best player, Travis Hunter, who can excel as a receiver or a corner. Drake Maye gave Patriots fans a lot of reasons to be excited after his stellar rookie season.
“The team must do everything in its power to surround him with talent. They signed Stefon Diggs, and I think Diggs is the perfect veteran receiver who can teach Hunter the nuances of playing the position at a high level in the NFL.”
LaJohntay Wester’s NFL Draft Projection
Wester isn’t as well known as his teammates Hunter and Horn, but he certainly will have a role in the NFL next season. Wester brings a ton of experience and versatility to the next level and he should be able to carve out a successful NFL career.
As a prospect, Wester has below-average size and strength but is a good overall athlete. Wester primarily played in the slot but was often moved around the formation to create favorable mismatches.
Wester is a sudden receiver who runs excellent routes. He creates very good separation at the top of the route and displays good start-stop quickness to snap off routes at the break point, leaving his defender stumbling to gather their footing.
Wester was outstanding as an underneath option, and Colorado used him a ton on screens and bubbles to get the ball into his hands, as he is dynamic after the catch.
Wester has very good speed and acceleration. He is able to win vertically down the field and has above-average overall hands and body control to track the football.
His lack of length and size limits his ability to come down with contested catches, and he battled concentration drops throughout his career. Wester is a slot-only receiver who will not be able to win on the boundary at the next level. He will struggle to win one-on-one against NFL-caliber corners and will find it difficult to defeat press coverage at the NFL level.
Overall, Wester is a tough, versatile receiver who should be able to compete as a slot receiver as well as contribute on special teams. Wester was tremendous in his lone season with the Buffalos and provided the team with many big plays.
Potential Landing Spot: Miami Dolphins
In PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft, Wester is projected to come off the board at No. 116 overall to the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round.
This is a crowded receiver class, but Wester should hear his name called at some point due to his size and play strength.
Jimmy Horn Jr.’s NFL Draft Projection
Horn enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the fastest and most electric receivers in this class. He was one of the stars in Colorado’s explosive offense over the last few seasons, and while he doesn’t carry the same level of notoriety as his superstar teammate Hunter, Horn is certainly capable of establishing himself at the next level.
As a prospect, Horn has below-average size and strength but is still an above-average athlete. Horn primarily aligned as a slot receiver in the Buffaloes’ offense and was the team’s primary kickoff returner as well.
>Horn displays very good linear speed and is able to win vertically with ease. Defenders find it extremely difficult to stay in pace with Horn after he opens his gate and kicks it into high gear. He’s a big-play threat and a player defensive coordinators need to circle whenever he is on the field. He has the ability to stretch the field from the slot and win downfield, while also flashing above-average ability to track and play the football in the air.
While Horn certainly lacks the size you want in an NFL receiver, Horn’s toughness and competitiveness were clear on his college film. Horn rarely goes down on first contact and consistently fights for extra yards with the ball in his hands.
His downfield ability was the biggest key to his success, but Colorado also frequently schemed him easy touches in the form of screens, bubbles and reverses that helped him demonstrate how dynamic he can be with the ball in his hands.
Horn can make defenders miss and has the speed to defeat angles in the open field. This is a player who can have a clear and defined role as a slot receiver with the ability to stretch the field and draw quick, easy touches.
NFL decision-makers will have to weigh Horn’s ability as a playmaker against the fact that he does not meet the threshold for an NFL receiver as it relates to his size and strength. He lacks the ability to make contested catches and allows the defensive back to make plays on the football.
He has very little experience playing on the boundary and will almost certainly profile exclusively as a slot receiver at the next level. Injuries have been a concern as well, and Horn must prove he can remain healthy if a team is going to invest a draft pick in him.
Overall, Horn is not to be mistaken for a player capable of serving as a No. 1 or even No. 2 option in an NFL offense. However, Horn could certainly thrive as a No. 3/slot receiver with the ability to win at all three levels of the field and contribute on special teams.
Potential Landing Spot: Buffalo Bills
It’s likely Horn hears his name called early on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he ultimately outplays his draft slotting.
In PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft, Horn is projected to get picked by the Buffalo Bills with the No. 177 overall pick — the first pick in the sixth round.
Will Sheppard’s NFL Draft Projection
Sheppard falls in line with the archetype of wide receiver many draftniks have fallen for over the years. His length, fluidity, and flashes of wiggle in open space offer hope that the receiver can carve out a role at the NFL level. However, we’ve seen a similar picture before.
Play strength, particularly for an outside receiver who will be asked to play on the line of scrimmage often, is paramount. Unfortunately, Sheppard falls short here. He struggles finishing through contact and his catch technique remains inconsistent.
Even though the long, lean pass catcher flashes some impressive wiggle as an unencumbered route runner and in space with the ball in his hands, it’s not enough to consistently create separation against NFL athletes.
If Sheppard possessed high-end play strength along with that wiggle, his potential to carve out an NFL role would be easier to project. Unfortunately, he’s unable to use his length and frame to consistently gain separation at the top of routes against man coverage. All his work is done in open zone windows or as a mesh runner.
In the end, it’s not easy for receivers to find success at the NFL level if they run a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. Add in lackluster play strength, and it’s hard to envision a sustained NFL career demanding snaps on Sundays.
Potential Landing Spot: Philadelphia Eagles
Sheppard has had a wide range of outcomes in PFSN’s seven-round mock drafts.
Earlier this month, PFSN’s Ian Cummings had Sheppard going No. 169 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round in his seven-round mock draft. However, in our most recent seven-round mock drafts, Sheppard is projected to go undrafted.
It remains to be seen if he’ll be selected on draft day. Unlike the previous four names, Sheppard wasn’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, which is an indication that NFL teams may view him as an undrafted prospect. Colorado’s pro day will give him an opportunity to change how he’s perceived by NFL decision-makers.
Shilo Sanders’ NFL Draft Projection
On the field, Shilo Sanders has abilities that should land him with an NFL team.
Shilo has significant collegiate experience, appearing in 34 games across his college career and totaling 170 tackles, four tackles for a loss, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one interception.
With a high football IQ and solid athletic ability for the safety position, Sanders is an effective coverage defender with a penchant for forcing fumbles.
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He could improve his form and physicality as a tackler and ability at the catch point. However, the problem is that the bulk of Shilo’s concerns aren’t entirely on the field.
There are some red flags, including his financial issues and assault lawsuit, and he’s an older rookie entering the NFL to begin with (25 years old).
Potential Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys
With a couple of factors playing against him, Shilo feels like a late-round pick at best. His tape indicates he could be worthy of a selection late in Round 6 or sometime in Round 7.
In PFSN’s recent seven-round mock draft, Shilo is projected to get picked No. 247 by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round.
Perhaps his father’s former team will be willing to overlook Shilo’s red flags since Jerry Jones and Co. know the family well. Also, Jones is always looking for a way to create headlines, and drafting Shilo would do just that.
Like Sheppard, Shilo didn’t earn an invitation to the Combine, so a strong performance at Colorado’s pro day could be huge for him as he tries to realize his NFL dream. If he doesn’t hear his name called, he should have his fair share of suitors in undrafted free agency.