Getty Image / Dustin Bradford
With the page having been turned on the 2024 NFL Draft, draft experts are looking forward to the 2025 NFL Draft.
One of the highest-profile prospects is Colorado quarterback and son of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders.
Many have the senior as a high first-round pick in next year’s draft, despite Colorado’s 4-8 record last year in which they lost eight of their last nine games. Sanders threw for 3,270 yards and 27 touchdowns with 3 interceptions last season, despite terrible offensive line play.
That being said, he’s going to be a polarizing player. Some of the reasons for that are for on-field reasons like the fact that they were 4-8 and he doesn’t have the biggest arm in the world. Others are off-the-field reasons, such as the antics around the Colorado program that could lead one to think that they’re not super focused on winning.
We’re a full year away from the 2025 NFL Draft, so mock drafts right now are kind of pointless. But, ESPN’s Jordan Reid released his first mock draft for 2025 anyways, and it has the Las Vegas Raiders building around Shedeur Sanders. He has them moving up to the fifth-overall pick in a trade with the Tennessee Titans.
Six quarterbacks were already off the board by the time the Raiders were on the clock at No. 13 last week, so perhaps Las Vegas will instead address the position next year. And I think it would want to be more aggressive in 2025 rather than risking missing out on its guy, hence the projected trade up. Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connelllikely aren’t the long-term solutions.
With Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers,and Brock Bowerson offense, the Raiders can set up a young passer really well. And Sanders is a smooth operator whose game centers on his great ball placement (69.3% completion rate last season, eighth in the FBS) and calm demeanor when protected in the pocket. He took 52 sacks in 2023 behind a struggling offensive line, so Sanders’ internal clock must speed up before he gets to the next level; he tends to compound mistakes by holding on to the ball too long. But he has a ton of talent and can certainly be the answer for Las Vegas. I see a lot of similarities to Geno Smith in his game.
Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock is going to be the most fun and volatile story of the 2025 NFL Draft process.