Shedeur Sanders, son of Hall of Fame defensive back Deion Sanders, is in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Tennessee Titans, though Miami (FL) quarterback Cam Ward remains the favorite for that top spot. However, several analysts have been skeptical of Sanders, and his draft stock has fluctuated since the NFL Combine.
Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky doesn’t think Sanders can play in just any type of offense and compared him to a $212 million AFC quarterback.
Dan Orlovsky Compares Shedeur Sanders to Dolphins QB
Over four years in college, Sanders totaled 14,327 passing yards, 134 passing touchdowns, 17 rushing touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. His strengths lie in his accuracy on short and intermediate throws, as he completed 74.0% of his passes in 2024, leading the FCS. Still, Orlovsky believes Sanders lacks the physical traits to play in any type of offense.
“If you were going to say, ‘Where or what type of offense does Shedeur need to be in to play to his very best?'” he asked on ESPN’s “First Take.”
“Because he’s not one of those five guys on the planet that you can kind of put him in any offense, and his physical skills are just absolutely absurd that he’ll overcome any deficiency of it.”
Orlovsky then answered his own question, saying an offense like Miami’s would be ideal for the Colorado passer. “I’d tell you, he needed to be in an offense similar to what Tua [Tagovailoa] is like in Miami or what Brock Purdy is like in San Francisco or a little bit of what Joe Burrow is like in Cincinnati — point guard.
“Tua is my comp in many ways for Shedeur Sanders. Great ball placement, rhythm and timing, super smart, anticipatory thrower,” Orlovsky said.
Tagovailoa hasn’t made Miami a powerhouse, but he hasn’t been a disappointment, either. Whether Sanders faces a similar trajectory in the NFL remains to be seen. In recent years, teams have hit and missed on different quarterback prototypes.
In 2021, San Francisco went all in on Trey Lance, believing his athleticism set him apart from the rest of the class. He lasted just two years with the San Francisco 49ers and was traded after starting only four regular-season games for the franchise.
In 2019, the New York Giants shocked everyone on draft night by taking Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick. While he made the playoffs and earned a contract extension, Jones never lived up to the expectations of his draft position. He was released by the team midway through last season.
The takeaway? A player’s success depends on several factors: coaching, supporting cast, and of course, their own talent.
If Sanders lands in an offense that is a good fit for him — and Orlovsky suggested the Las Vegas Raiders as an ideal fit — he could have a successful career akin to Tagovailoa’s as the captain of an offense. In the latest three-round NFL Mock Draft by PFSN’s Justin Lewis, Sanders is projected to be selected by the New York Jets with the seventh overall pick.