The hottest pre-draft debate revolves around Shedeur Sanders. One minute, evaluators are complaining that he has a bad attitude; other evaluators say he’s a confident young man who knows who he is. One coach or executive will say they see him as a top-10 pick before another says he can see him dropping out of the first round entirely.
In the meantime, Sanders has organized or conducted visits with the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants, among others. Even with loads of film on him, multiple face-to-face meetings with team officials, and evaluators pouring over minutiae-filled scouring reports, we’re no nearer to a clear picture of his value on the 2025 NFL Draft board.
No One Knows Where Shedeur Sanders Is Going — Even Himself
When asked by Kay Adams on “Up & Adams” where he thinks he will be drafted, Sanders had a to-the-point answer. “If I knew where I’d be going, my house would be bought already,” Sanders said.
"If I knew where I was going, my house would be bought already."
Shedeur Sanders has NO CLUE where he’ll be drafted.@heykayadams | @ShedeurSanders pic.twitter.com/WI9fGcqfio
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 10, 2025
Sanders has been criticized for not having a big enough arm. For patting the ball too much before throwing a pass. For being arrogant and cocky. However, his numbers are undeniable for a prospect.
In 2024, he led the Big 12 in completion percentage (74%), passing yards (4,134), and passing touchdowns (37). That was after he decided to come back for his senior year after the Buffaloes went 4-8 in his junior year, Year 1 at Colorado.
Right now, PFSN has Sanders falling to the second round in the latest seven-round mock draft from Reese Decker. Meanwhile, a recent two-round mock draft from Brentley Weissman has Sanders landing with the New Orleans Saints at ninth overall. The Saints aren’t the only teams that could snag Sanders if he were to slip in the draft.
Joining the Steelers in bargain hunting for a rookie quarterback are the Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford is 37, and they need to start developing a long-term replacement for their Super Bowl winner.
Sanders’ predicament is not unprecedented. Aaron Rodgers famously dropped to the Green Bay Packers at the 24th pick in 2005. Lamar Jackson dropped to the Baltimore Ravens 32nd overall after a season in which he went head to head against Deshaun Watson in one of the greatest college football games of all time.
One of the most famous instances of a top prospect falling is that of Dan Marino in 1983. He slipped to the Miami Dolphins at No. 27 because he had a mediocre senior year compared to his junior season and had to deal with rumors of recreational drug use.
As for Sanders, we’ll see how this all shakes out on April 24, 2025, when the NFL Draft kicks off.