NFL execs: Shedeur Sanders is more likely to get a coach fired than earn extension

During the 2024 college football season, there was talk that University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders could position himself to become the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While he finished eighth in the Heisman voting and helped the Buffaloes improve from a 4-8 record in 2023 to a 9-4 record in 2024, Sanders isn’t anywhere close to being viewed as the No. 1 pick.

In fact, according to The Athletic’s Mike Sando, some NFL executives have a second-round grade on Sanders, and there are many reasons why his stock appears to be slipping as the draft draws near.

Scouts paint negative outlook for team that drafts Shedeur Sanders

Shedeur Sanders’ draft projection has been described as anywhere from the top six selections to out of the first round completely. Of course, all it takes is one team to fall in love with the QB prospect, yet, it seems like several others are cooling on his stock.

As Sando explains, most NFL executives do not view Sanders as a top-10 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, and they have several reasons for this.

“They think he holds the ball too long, lacks high-end traits and hit the wrong notes in combine interviews. Some fear he would be more likely to get a coach fired than help one earn an extension. Some said they had second-round grades on him.”
The Athletic on Shedeur Sanders

One NFL executive even said the presence of Deion Sanders could hold Shedeur back, saying it’s “about him and not the team.”

While reports like this emerge about top NFL Draft prospects each year, it’s up to the individual teams to parse through which ones are worthwhile and which are smokescreens aimed at lowering the draft stock of a player they may covet.