Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders have separated themselves as the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft — but only one is viewed as a lock to go early. While Ward is expected to be a top-three pick, Sanders’ stock remains more volatile, with some mock drafts now projecting a surprising slide outside the top 10.
While Ward is essentially a lock to go off the board in the top three selections, some are still coming out with bold takes on Sanders’ future. Most saw the Las Vegas Raiders as the floor for the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders before they traded for former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
It doesn’t mean the Raiders or other organizations with a “bridge” quarterback will pass on Sanders, but it does raise the likelihood of him falling in Round 1. In one mock draft scenario, the 23-year-old falls well outside of the top 10.
New Orleans Saints Predicted to Select Shedeur Sanders in NFL Draft
This situation would easily be the biggest headline of the night, as not only does Sanders fall so low, but the New Orleans Saints would even pass on him once.
CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli projects the Saints to use their selection (No. 9) to take cornerback Will Johnson and trade back into the first round with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to land Sanders at No. 19.
“An NFC South swap! The Saints move back into the first round to draft Shedeur Sanders, whom I’m sure has been shown on the television broadcast no fewer than 1,500 times at this point, with countless updates on his body language.
“Anyway, the Saints don’t have a long-term answer behind Derek Carr, and this allows Sanders to sit and develop for a season, or perhaps win the job straight away.”
The Saints’ starting job is seemingly up for grabs, as although Carr slotted at No. 11 in PFSN’s QB+ metric last season, his career is likely on the decline. He appeared in 10 games in 2024, where he recorded 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. While Carr could keep New Orleans in the tier of average teams, the Saints’ front office should desire much more.
At No. 19, there would be much less risk in drafting Sanders than if an organization decides to trade up for him on draft night. The Saints’ offense came in at No. 22 in PFSN’s Offense+ metrics, further emphasizing their issue of mediocrity since the Drew Brees era.
PFSN’s latest mock draft has Sanders falling even further, as Reese Decker predicts he will go off the board to the Cleveland Browns at No. 33.
Carr is not the player to lift them out of that category, and it’s possible Sanders isn’t either. However, if the Colorado QB somehow falls this far, New Orleans would be foolish not to acquire him.