The Colorado Buffaloes pro day on Friday afternoon is a final opportunity for quarterback Shedeur Sanders and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter to prove themselves in front of scouts and general managers. There’s evidently a lot at stake for Sanders just weeks out from the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sanders came into the pre-draft process in a battle with Cam Ward to be viewed as the best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. Quickly, Ward overtook Sanders with most around the league putting the two signal-callers into vastly different tiers as prospects.
Related: Insider reveals gap between Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart among NFL teams
- 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
It still hasn’t had a true negative impact on Sanders’ draft projection. He could be drafted as early as the second overall pick by the Cleveland Browns or the third overall selection by the New York Giants. At worst, he isn’t expected to make it past the New Orleans Saints with the ninth overall pick. However, a lot is riding on the Colorado Pro Day on Friday.
Yahoo Sports‘ senior NFL reporter Charles Robinson wrote that the pro day is an opportunity for Sanders to address some of the concerns teams have about them. Mainly, questions over his arm strength, overall athleticism, size and whether or not he was fully invested in the pre-draft process.
Related: Latest Shedeur Sanders draft projection
The 23-year-old quarterback ruffled some feathers during interviews at the NFL Combine, offering answers that some viewed as great confidence and others saw as arrogance.
“That’s the plan. If that’s not what you’re trying to do — don’t get me. If you ain’t trying to change the franchise or the culture — don’t get me. So, you should know history repeats itself over and over and over, and I’ve done it over and over and over, so it should be no question why a franchise should pick me.”
Colorado Buffaloes QB Shedeur Sanders on whether or not he’s a franchise-changing quarterback
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As a passer, Sanders’ arm strength is viewed as just average with velocity that might be slightly above average. Regarding his athleticism, his escapability from the pocket and ability to make plays with his legs is only viewed as adequate.
There are also questions about how Deion Sanders might try and influence his son’s career or what public comments he might make about his son’s coaches if the young quarterback struggles. However, the 23-year-old has also proven he can hang in the pocket, showcasing crisp accuracy with an advanced feel for the position.
The NFL comparisons from Sanders have ranged from as high as Geno Smith to a better version of Jimmy Garoppolo. While the lack of high-end physical tools limits his upside, most teams do view Sanders as a starting-caliber quarterback who could flourish in the right system with great talent around him.
