The Shedeur Sanders media circus is in full swing just over a week out from the 2025 NFL Draft, and everyone is taking the chance to offer their opinion on the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback.
Of course, part of the Sanders package is the presence of his father and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. The two combined to carry the Buffaloes to their best season since 2016, posting a 9-4 record in 2024, including a loss in the Alamo Bowl.
Now, draft analysts are debating which teams, if any, are capable of handling the noise that comes attached to the Sanders family. Shedeur is likely to be the second quarterback to go off the board at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc., on April 24.
Mike Florio Offers ‘Ideal’ Destination for Shedeur Sanders in NFL Draft
While hosting an episode of “Pro Football Talk” on NBC, noted NFL analyst Mike Florio acknowledged how difficult it will be for NFL teams to quell complaints from Deion if Shedeur struggles or is benched early in his career.
Nevertheless, Florio noted that one team (and coach) is particularly well-suited to handle that pressure: Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“[Mike Tomlin] is the guy that would not be troubled, in any way, shape or form, by Deion Sanders. He is not gonna be concerned by anything that Deion says, and if they ask him at a press conference, you know [what he’ll say]: ‘We do not care,'” Florio explained.
“This may be the preferred destination and the way to make it happen. Deion scares away the weak, and somebody strong enough to handle that situation with Deion looming is the one that gets Shedeur Sanders.”
For what it’s worth, Sanders did meet with the Steelers last week, suggesting the visit was impressive and that he clicked immediately with Tomlin. The fit could be there regardless of whether the team ever signs veteran free agent Aaron Rodgers.
Sanders is coming off a dominant season, leading the Big 12 in completion rate (74.0%), passing yards (4,134), and passing touchdowns (37). He’d be a dynamic addition for any team looking for a franchise QB.
Mock Drafts Have Varying Predictions for Colorado QB
It’s hard to imagine him slipping all the way down to Pittsburgh at No. 21, though perceptions about him have been changing recently. They kind of change from minute to minute.
In PFSN’s most recent seven-round mock draft, Sanders is projected to drop into the second round. Juxtapose that with another recent two-round mock draft where Sanders is slotted in at No. 9 to the New Orleans Saints, and you have many possible outcomes for the Colorado product on draft night.
In PFSN’s scouting report on the QB, the 23-year-old is commended for his toughness and accuracy from the pocket, as well as his ability to make plays on the fly. However, PFSN’s Jacob Infante does warn of his lackluster throwing velocity and tendency to hang onto the ball too long.
Still, the positives vastly outweigh the negatives, and Sanders would immediately become the franchise’s quarterback of the future if the team finds a way to get him.
Even if it takes a trade-up, the Steelers are beginning to look like a prominent suitor for Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft. He could find himself in a unique situation where he gets to spend a year on the bench while learning from Rodgers.