Shedeur Sanders is projected to be either the first or second quarterback off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, in recent weeks, rumors have surfaced about Sanders potentially slipping in the draft as teams sign or trade for veteran quarterbacks.
One former college and NFL coach weighed in on Sanders’ draft stock and why it could be falling.
Urban Meyer Shares Update on Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Stock
Urban Meyer is no stranger to the NFL Draft process. The longtime college head coach is a three-time national champion and had a brief stint as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Having both lost players to the NFL and evaluated prospects, Meyer has seen the draft process from both sides.
“I called a GM friend of mine, and [Shedeur Sanders] slipped a little bit here,” Meyer said on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.”
“The reason he’s slipping is they’re looking at the competition that he played. I don’t know if I necessarily agree with that. But I understand, throughout the NFL, there’s a concern about if he can make the throw in the tight windows because, in the Big 12 conference, he didn’t have to do that very much.”
Meyer added, “You look at his big plays; a lot of them were on the run, and you know that’s not necessarily what they’re looking for in the NFL. They want a guy that can drop back and make that tight window throw. There’s some question marks if he can do that.”
In 2024, Sanders led the Big 12 in nearly every passing category, completing 353 of 477 passes (74%) for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns, averaging 318 yards per game. His 71.8% career completion percentage is an FBS record.
Another potential reason for Sanders’ slide could be the influx of veteran quarterback moves early in the offseason. The Las Vegas Raiders acquired Geno Smith for a third-round pick, and the New York Jets signed Justin Fields to a two-year contract. Both teams hold top-seven picks in the NFL Draft and were linked to Sanders, but with new quarterbacks on the roster, it’s unclear if they are still in the market for a rookie QB.
Additionally, the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns are two more teams at the top of the NFL Draft that have been linked to quarterbacks, but both have also pursued veteran options. The Browns traded for Kenny Pickett and met with Russell Wilson, while the Giants are set to meet with Wilson and have been heavily linked to Aaron Rodgers.
Potential Fits for Sanders, Ward in 2025 NFL Draft
As the NFL free agency progresses, roster vacancies and holes start to fill up with new talent, and arguably no position experiences a more significant carousel than quarterbacks.
With big moves happening all across the NFL, several teams that appeared to be QB-needy like the Raiders, Jets, and even the Browns (to an extent) have positioned themselves to not be pigeonholed into taking a signal-caller in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, with a few more dominos waiting to fall — namely Rodgers and Wilson — it seems like the top candidates to be in on the QB market in the NFL Draft are the top three teams: Tennessee, Cleveland, and New York.
READ MORE: 3-Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft
In PFSN’s latest three-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft, Ward went No. 2 overall to the Browns: “The Browns will need to surround Ward with high-IQ coaching and veteran leadership — something they haven’t historically done well with young quarterbacks,” wrote Marco Enriquez.
Sanders, though, followed right behind him, going No. 3 to Big Blue.
“Sanders is the most accurate passer in this class and has the mobility to extend plays. While some question his arm strength, pairing him with Malik Nabers could ease those concerns early in his career. Sanders’ biggest hurdle will be handling pressure, as he tends to hold onto the ball too long and sometimes moves into pressure instead of away from it,” Enriquez said.
Ultimately, the Giants could indeed be the likeliest landing spot for Sanders if he doesn’t fall in the first round, even if New York casts its lot with either Rodgers or Wilson for 2025.
Both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are essentially in contract years from an administrative sense, so the interest in the two veteran quarterbacks that could give the team’s offense a much-needed one-year jolt isn’t altogether surprising.
Yet, those in the organization above the pay grades of Schoen and Daboll also inevitably have an eye on the future beyond next season, a future that may not include the current general manager or head coach.
As such, the Giants could certainly opt for the best of both worlds, securing the services of either Rodgers or Wilson for the short term and drafting Sanders, who could certainly highly benefit from a year of sitting and learning from a seasoned veteran.