The debate on whether Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Miami Hurricanes’ Cam Ward, or a non-quarterback should be the first-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft has taken over the NFL world.
While many analysts criticize Sanders for being overhyped and question his physical tools, others have made a bold case for the Colorado quarterback to hear his name called first in April.
NFL Analyst Makes a Bold Case for Shedeur Sanders To Be the No. 1 Overall Pick in 2025
Sanders emerged as one of college football’s elite quarterbacks in 2024. The Buffaloes quarterback and corner/receiver Travis Hunter both turned the program around after a disappointing 4-8 year in 2023, winning nine games in their second season in the mountains.
While a few critics reject the Sanders hype, many see his talent as translatable to the modern game.
During a recent podcast, Pro Football Focus analyst Max Chadwick praised the Colorado star and said that he’s shown immense growth in the last four years, from Jackson State to his time in Boulder.
Chadwick pointed out that Shedeur reads defenses like a pro quarterback and is a pure distributor on the field, accurately catering to every player’s need.
“Just four years, just four years of outstanding production, whether it be at Jackson State or at Colorado, 80+ PFF grade in all four years, his grade improved every single year as a starter as well. He reads defenses like an NFL quarterback.
“Already, he’s a pure distributor of the football, every mouth is fed when Shedeur Sanders is playing quarterback; incredibly accurate to all levels of the field, his touch is spectacular, second best on catchable pass rate over the last two years, and only Bo Nix was better.
“Does not put the ball arms way at all, 1.3% turnover rate over the last two years, again, only Bo Nix was lower than Shedeur Sanders. Incredibly poised, despite taking a ton of hits from his offensive line, clutch factor too. There’s not another quarterback in college football that you want in a two-minute drill than Shedeur Sanders.”
🔥 The #1 Draft QB. PFF has Shedeur Sanders as the Top Choice, Predicts the Titans
"The most NFL ready QB. He is a pure distributor of the football. Every mouth is fed. Incredibly accurate, touch is spectacular, incredibly poised, clutch factor"
📽️ @PFF pic.twitter.com/eCJnSqBX3x
— JaKi 🇺🇸 (@JaKiTruth) February 11, 2025
The analyst concluded by saying Sanders is the most NFL-ready quarterback currently because of his accuracy, processing skills, ability to read the defense, and more, all of which made him choose the Colorado QB as the No. 1 overall pick for when the Tennessee Titans are on the clock.
According to his PFSN scouting report, Sanders is the quarterback with the most NFL-ready skill set. The polished passer is among the most accurate in his class, with the ability to operate full-field reads and manipulate the middle of the field adding to his game.
Sanders doesn’t have the athletic upside of others, but his movement is underrated.
Despite playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in college football, the Buffaloes QB’s pocket navigation is impressive, setting him up to potentially start as a rookie and handle adversity well.
That aforementioned accuracy is one of the most distinct selling points of Sanders’ tape. He generates enough velocity and has a degree of off-platform freedom. And while his mechanics are imperfect, he can find uncanny ways to hit targets with good placement and touch.
Going further, Sanders’ processing — a trait honed across years of starting experience at the collegiate level — is also a relative strength. Sanders can operate pre-snap, recognize defensive looks, adjust protections, and progress through reads post-snap — and he’s a measured decision-maker who often protects the ball.