Shedeur Sanders is the most polarizing prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback isn’t viewed as a consensus first-round talent, but many of the latest NFL mock drafts have him being picked anywhere from second overall to late in Round 1. With draft day approaching, more clarity is emerging.
The reasoning behind the divided opinions on Sanders has to do with his skill set. He lacks elite arm strength and he’s just an adequate athlete, leaving him without either high-end physical tool that is typically found in franchise quarterbacks. However, he’s a very accurate passer who can read the field and make plays on the move with relative ease.
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- Shedeur Sanders stats (ESPN): 4,134 passing yards, 37-10 TD-INT, 74% completion rate, 8.7 yards per attempt, 168.2 QB rating, 4 rushing touchdowns
On talent alone, Sanders is a fringe first-round talent. However, the number of quarterback-needy teams around the league could push Sanders near the top of the order. While he reportedly didn’t interview well with several teams, it appears Sanders’ draft projection is just fine.
According to ESPN‘s Jordan Reid, the belief around the league is that the floor for Sanders in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is the New York Jets with the seventh overall pick.
The growing expectation around the league is that the Tennessee Titans will use the first overall pick on quarterback Cam Ward, everything after that is up in the air. The Cleveland Browns are a viable threat to take Sanders, as are the New York Giants with the third overall pick.
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New York could potentially take itself out of the mix for Sanders if it successfully lands Russell Wilson in NFL free agency. Cleveland is also in the veteran quarterback market, but its salary-cap issues make it far likelier the team brings in a rookie quarterback.
As for the Jets, Sanders would compete with free-agent signing Justin Fields to be the starter in Week 1. While Fields’ deal likely gives him an advantage in the potential competition, Sanders’ accuracy and pro-ready skills could make him a better fit in offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand’s offense. However, all of this is contingent on Sanders even falling to the seventh overall pick.
