There’s little doubt quarterback Shedeur Sanders is one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s not just the drama that tends to follow his father, the legendary Deion Sanders, but also Shedeur’s movement all over the draft board this offseason.
Sanders has been credited with helping turn around the Colorado Buffaloes football program. The team went from nearly unknown and struggling to earning a bowl game appearance for the first time in almost 20 years. With Deion coaching and Shedeur slinging the ball to athletic phenom Travis Hunter, Colorado quickly became a national storyline.
That success is part of why Sanders and Cam Ward opened the offseason in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick—or at least the first quarterback off the board. But in recent months, Sanders has slid. Analysts are questioning whether Deion called plays to pad his son’s and Hunter’s stats and whether Colorado faced tough enough opponents to prove Shedeur is ready for the NFL.
NFL Teams Send Silent Signal About How Much They Do or Don’t Want Shedeur Sanders
NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell joined Ross Tucker on “The Ross Tucker Podcast” to talk about recent moves by the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.
The Browns and Giants, who pick second and third in the draft, have each brought in veteran quarterbacks. Cleveland traded for Kenny Pickett and signed Joe Flacco, while New York signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.
“With what the Giants have done and with the Browns have done, you'd have to think that these moves were made because they don't see Shedeur Sanders as worthy of a second or third pick in a draft.”@GregCosell on today’s @ RossTuckerPod: pic.twitter.com/Fdu3tL9JF1
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) April 15, 2025
“With what the Giants have done with Wilson and what the Browns have done with Pickett and now Flacco, you’d have to think that these moves were made because their personnel people and their coaching staff don’t see Shedeur Sanders as worthy of a second or third pick in a draft,” Cosell said.
Cosell added that the Browns could still trade Pickett—who backed up Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia in 2024 — keep Flacco, and then draft Sanders. But he admitted that scenario feels “awkward.”
Earlier this offseason, rumors suggested that Sanders didn’t want to go to specific teams. However, he recently set the record straight, saying he just wants the opportunity to play. Sanders, who began his college career at an HBCU, said his journey is what matters most.
PFSN’s most recent mock draft has the Browns taking Abdul Carter from Penn State and the Giants selecting Hunter, Sanders’ former Colorado teammate. Both teams have multiple holes to fill, and those picks would bring them the dependable talent they need.
While every draft pick carries some risk, this year’s class is especially tricky. The quarterback group doesn’t have the same clear-cut talent as previous years. Taking Sanders — or someone like Jaxson Dart — early comes with absolute uncertainty.
Where Sanders lands and how well he adapts to the NFL is still anybody’s guess. Only time will tell.