Shedeur Sanders not viewed as ‘first-round talent’ by some personnel as 2025 NFL Draft nears

When the NFL’s decision-makers are on the clock next Thursday as the 2025 NFL Draft begins, NFL insider Albert Breer projects quarterback Shedeur Sanders will have to wait a beat to hear his name called.

Reflecting on the latest league happenings in his Sports Illustrated column Monday, Breer wrote he’s “having a really hard time finding coaches or scouts who believe Sanders is a first-round talent,” noting the reservations stem from a multitude of areas.

“What I keep hearing — and this has nothing to do with anyone having some personal issue with Sanders, or looking for him to fall in the draft so they can draft him — is that he isn’t a great athlete on tape, doesn’t have exceptional arm talent, and too often does things that simply won’t translate to the NFL game,” Breer wrote of the Colorado prospect, who is the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

He then called attention to how Sanders, 23, reacts when he’s under pressure versus Ole Miss prospect Jaxson Dart, citing a past observation from a coach.

“When you watch those two under duress on tape, you see Dart moving forward, and Sanders moving backward. That essentially means that where Dart would climb the pocket, Sanders would bail out the back of it, and run away from defenders to create time to throw,” Breer wrote.

“It’s a little thing, but to this coach, it was an example of how Dart’s game may translate to the NFL better— and how in a league with freakish pass rushers all over the place, the quarterback who manipulates the space around him has a much better chance than the one trying to create space on his own.”

Although three quarterback-needy teams are picking in the top three of this year’s draft — the Titans, Browns and Giants in that order — Breer doesn’t believe Sanders will be selected that high, adding, “At this point, it feels like it’d be surprising if the Las Vegas Raiders (pick No. 6), New York Jets (pick No. 7) or Saints (pick No. 9) took him in the top 10.”

Regarded as one of the most polarizing prospects in this year’s draft class, analysts and experts have struggled to pinpoint where exactly Sanders will land.

In addition to chatter about his talent, Sanders has also combated rumors of “unprofessional” behavior allegedly exhibited at the combine earlier this year.

Sanders previously spoke about his candid approach in team visits.

“When I talk to any team, I understand the work it’s gonna take and I see the dynamic of everybody that’s around, so I know how I approach different situations and what I’m gonna have to do to be successful in different franchises,” he said. “So, I’m just sitting back observing, watching everything and all of what’s gonna take to change the franchise for the better.”

Even though Breer has been told, “If Sanders goes in the first round, it’ll be because an owner got involved,” the ever-changing QB landscape could shake up that projection.

With Saints quarterback Derek Carr dealing with an apparent shoulder injury, an ailment reported last Friday, Sanders’ dad Deion made it clear he’s keeping an eye on New Orleans.

In response to an X post from ESPN’s Louis Riddick that read, “That 9th pick gonna be all kinds of interesting,” the Buffaloes coach replied with eyeball emojis.

The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft begins next Thursday in Green Bay.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward is widely projected to land with the Titans at No. 1 overall.