Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders is not eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft. He’ll be returning to play another season for his father, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.
But just because he doesn’t yet have his eye on going pro, it hasn’t prevented Coach Prime from comparing his son to the top quarterback prospects set to hear their names called first on April 25 when the draft kicks off.
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels make up the likely top three quarterbacks on current NFL draft boards, but Prime believes Shedeur would be in the mix to surpass two of them.
“He wouldn’t have been the first quarterback off the board. I think he had the ability but he probably would have been the second quarterback off the board.”
Deion Sanders on Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock
Okay, Deion admits that Shedeur likely wouldn’t be able to compete with USC’s Caleb Williams as the first overall pick, but the second? No problem. Aside from being his typical boisterous self, how does Deion feel so confident in making such a bold statement?
“The only reason I know that, don’t you think I know people in the NFL? I’m sorry, I played for how many years, 14? Got a gold jacket at the crib, I think. I think I know some people. Jerry Jones. Arthur Blank. I know some people in the game. Roger Goodell. So when I speak I’m not just throwing stuff out of my head. I’m throwing stuff based on knowledge. So let’s just get that straight.”
Deion Sanders, setting things straight
While his dad often does much of the talking for him, Shedeur is also very confident in his abilities, and he says becoming the first quarterback selected isn’t just a dream, it’s his vision.
“I’m trying to be the first quarterback off the board. That’s really what it is,” Shedeur Sanders said. “I respect Caleb, I respect how he plays. He’s a great player. But overall there’s just different tiers of quarterbacks. There’s guys that’s special, there’s guys that’s are good and guys that are OK, game managers. You’ve gotta understand what player you are and what category you fall in. I understood this year wasn’t my year. I didn’t have enough time at this level.”
Shedeur Sanders on his NFL aspirations
While the No. 1 pick may already seem like it’s locked in for the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s a different story when looking ahead to next year, where there isn’t any consensus on the potential top pick. Who knows, with a strong season, maybe Shedeur Sanders can establish himself as the obvious frontrunner to hear his name called by commissioner Roger Goodell first.
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