Evaluating a prospect coming out of college is no easy task. The game operates at a different pace and with different dynamics compared to the NFL — and that’s one of the main reasons so many standout college players struggle to translate their game to the pro level.
When it comes to quarterbacks, things get even more complicated. Some college systems are considered “pro-ready,” featuring reads and schemes similar to what players will encounter in the NFL. Others focus solely on what works best for the program’s success, with little concern for how well a quarterback’s skills will transfer to the next level.
One former NFL quarterback and current analyst explained on his show why evaluating Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders has been especially challenging — calling it the toughest quarterback evaluation he’s ever done.
Dan Orlovsky Explains Why It’s So Hard to Evaluate Shedeur Sanders Ahead of the Draft
The top two quarterbacks in this year’s class are well established: Cam Ward from Miami and Shedeur Sanders from Colorado. Both have impressed analysts and are expected to be selected within the top 10 — with Ward the favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans.
However, Sanders’ draft value has become one of the most debated topics in the media. Some projections have him going inside the top three picks, while others suggest he could slide outside the top 10.
Dan Orlovsky explained why it’s so difficult to make an objective evaluation of the Colorado quarterback.
“He’s the hardest quarterback I’ve had to evaluate since I’ve gotten into TV. Because 75% of his snaps don’t matter, Greeny. And that’s the reality for everybody that’s evaluating Shedeur Sanders.”
Hardest evaluation at QB I’ve had.
Pre-post snap—ALL PRO CALIBER@GetUpESPN @Espngreeny pic.twitter.com/TtBZim2i3p
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) April 4, 2025
“Half of the snaps that he had at Colorado are thrown inside of five yards. It feels like when you watch his tape, every ball is thrown at the line of scrimmage. You’re not drafting him in the top five for that, right? So throw that out.”
Orlovsky’s comments even came up during some friendly trash talk between Ward and Sanders. While training together at UNLV, Cam Ward took a playful jab at Sanders, saying:
“They gave you a completion percentage award when all you did was throw checkdowns and bubble screens … If I did that, my completion percentage would be 90. I throw the ball downfield, you don’t,” Ward said to Sanders.
Orlovsky continued his analysis by explaining how limited the sample size is when it comes to evaluating Sanders. Even when the plays are meaningful, he noted, the poor offensive line makes it tough to judge Sanders fairly.
“That’s half the snaps. And then 25% of the snaps, the offensive line protection is so terrible that I don’t care if you have Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes. You’re not doing anything with that either. So you get to evaluate 25% of his snaps.”
Even though it’s tough to fully evaluate what Sanders brings to the table, Orlovsky still sees traits that could lead a team to draft him early — with the goal of developing the parts that can’t be seen clearly on tape.
He even compared Sanders to a current NFL starter who thrives when protected.
“And there’s a lot that you like. I mean, he’s elite with his field vision. Elite, all-pro level. When you watch the tape, when it comes to that, and you go, well, that looks like Tua Tagovailoa.”
Orlovsky then broke down how Sanders processes the field — recognizing soft spots in zone coverage, throwing with anticipation, and placing the ball where it needs to be. These are all traits that define Tagovailoa’s success in Mike McDaniel’s system, and if Sanders lands in the right scheme, they could serve him well, too.
“The question mark is, how much does he have that is uncoachable? Is his size uncoachable? No. Are his physical traits uncoachable? No. Is his athleticism uncoachable? No. I think that’s where you get the teetering of opinion on Shedeur. I think he’s going to be a quarterback you win a lot of games with.”
Sanders threw for 7,364 yards and 64 touchdowns with just 13 interceptions over two seasons at the University of Colorado. His football IQ has been praised throughout the pre-draft process, and that may be the trait that convinces a team to draft him as their franchise quarterback of the future.