Just like those late-night coffees, something’s definitely brewing behind the scenes of the 2025 NFL Draft. On one side, you’ve got Cam Ward, fired up and ready-especially after dropping that bold, “If you don’t draft me, that’s your fault … and I’ll remember that.” He’s got a chip on his shoulder, and people are taking notice. Then there’s Shedeur Sanders. Big name. Big game. But there’s chatter he might slip a little in the first round. Why?
Well, even though he took home the Golden Arm Award last year and lit up college football, critics say he doesn’t have that elite arm strength or top-tier athleticism. Shedeur Sanders’s flaws are getting more attention than his wins lately. Still, he’s expected to go as the No. 2 or 3 QB off the board. The question now is – who’s gonna take the chance on Colorado’s quarterback?
During a new episode of the Rich Eisen Show, guest host Tom Pelissero asked Dane Brugler about Coach Prime’s son. As he mentioned that Cam Ward looks pretty established at the number 1 pick, what does he think about Shedeur Sanders, or which other QB could be drafted at number 2? To which, Brugler said, “I think for the longest time, a lot of people assumed, okay, the Browns need a quarterback at two. The Giants need a quarterback at three. It’s gonna be one of those two spots.”
Will he go 2nd or fall out of the Top 10?
We discussed Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Stock with @TheAthleticNFL analyst two weeks before Green Bay:#NFL #NFLDraft @TomPelissero pic.twitter.com/7095AZtfPk
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 9, 2025
No doubt, the Giants and Browns are still hunting for that long-term answer at quarterback. Right now, they’ve got veteran arms who are either fading or constantly banged up. And they’re not alone. Teams like the Steelers and Saints wouldn’t mind locking in a solid QB either, especially with their current vets aging out. But here’s the thing, this year’s draft isn’t all about quarterbacks. Not for everyone, at least. A lot of teams are eyeing top-tier talent at other positions. Players like Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter – Yeah, they’re part of that conversation.
This was even highlighted by the analyst, who added, “But as we’ve gotten closer to the draft, I think people have realized, all right, teams don’t necessarily see the rest of this quarterback class in that same light. And this comes a year after we saw six quarterbacks go in the first 12 picks. So it’s a really unique quarterback year. And let’s say no quarterbacks go two or three.” But for Shedeur Sanders? This QB is likely to be drafted by some quarterback-needing team soon in the draft, not in the first pick, of course. But whichever team comes up to take him, there’s a warning for them.
Shedeur Sanders comes with a lot of demerits?
During the same episode of the podcast, NFL Draft writer Dane Brugler raised a very important point. After making bold predictions of the teams who might select him in the draft, the analyst said, “Last year, (Michael) Pennix going eight was a surprise. (Bo) Nix going 12 was a surprise. And so it’s kind of a reminder, like teams (who’re) gonna roll the dice on quarterbacks. And with a guy like Shedeur (Sanders), there’s a lot to like. For whatever reason, at some point, you’re not allowed to just like Shedeur. You have to love him or hate him.”
Brugler sees some good in quarterback Shedeur Sanders, calling him smart and tough, who is calm under the pressure. And yeah, that kid can also throw an accurate ball, “not quite as accurate as maybe 74% completions would suggest. 28% of his completions were screen passes.” But there is a ‘but.’ As per the analyst, there are some points that most folks don’t notice. He questioned, “But the way he likes to play, does he have the physical traits to make that happen at the next level? And I think Shedeur can start in the NFL, but I’m not convinced that he can be a top 12 to 14 quarterback in the NFL.”
Because if you’re an NFL team, the big question is: “Can he be someone that’s gonna help us reach the playoffs, (2:57) elevate the offense around him?” Or… is he the kind of quarterback who needs a lot of help to win? That’s where opinions start to split. Some teams love his upside. Others? Still on the fence. And even with that, Brugler says he’s still taking the over on 2.5 QBs going in the first round. So yeah, the league’s watching Shedeur Sanders closely. Now it’s just a matter of who’s willing to take that chance.
But if we talk about Sanders himself, the man is confident enough to bring a lot of cameras to his play. Let’s see which perspective turns out to be true!
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