PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out! Below, Chris Nalls presents a detailed 2025 NFL Draft Profile: Shedeur Sanders.
There hasn’t been a quarterback who has generated as much draft buzz as Shedeur Sanders. Excelling in Colorado and carving out his path, Sanders has been, no doubt, the most talked-about player this April. He has shown that he can play on the field under his father, and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, but now that the draft is approaching, many questions and concerns are popping up. Can Sanders be a franchise quarterback? We are seeing now that the former Colorado Buffalo QB is starting to slide a little in the draft ranks. This article will examine Sanders’s strengths and weaknesses and impact on the NFL and dynasty leagues.
In 2023, Sanders set school records and helped put Colorado on the map. He lit up the number 17th-ranked Horned Frogs, set a school record for throwing 510 yards, and beat TCU 45-42 in his debut. In 2024, Sanders helped lead the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record. His stats were remarkable in his final season at Colorado. He completed 74.2% of his passes and finished with 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns. Overall, in his college career, Sanders had 13,000 passing yards, 121 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions.
Strengths
Sanders has a lot of potential in this year’s draft. Is it worth a top-10 pick? Well, that’s what we are going to examine. When given a clean pocket, Sanders can be a difference maker. A completion rate of 74.2% in 2024 and 81% when defenders are kept at bay showcases his accuracy.
Sanders can extend plays when needed and has a high football IQ overall. Mobility is a strong suit for Sanders, and it was showcased in Colorado, where the Buffaloes’ offensive line was terrible. He has played in some high-pressure games, so mentally, Sanders can play in a much rougher NFL environment.
Weaknesses
With potential also comes weaknesses for Sanders. His arm talent is serviceable but not elite. Another knock on Sanders is that he holds onto the ball for too long, leading to 42 sacks. As Colorado’s offensive line has struggled, Sanders doesn’t deserve all the blame. One concerning issue is his success against less complex defenses. Watching his Alamo Bowl performance exposed Sanders. It will be tough to think Sanders will be able to come in day one and change a franchise like CJ Stroud or Bo Nix did. Time is going to be Sanders’ best friend in the NFL. He will need time to grow and learn, and one has to question whether that is worth a top ten pick in the NFL draft?
Dynasty Outlook
Dynasty managers in superflex leagues should draft Sanders in the mid- to late first round. Patience is going to be key in dynasty for Sanders, as he may sit in year one, depending on what NFL team drafts him. Sander will be a solid option for a team with older quarterbacks like Geno Smith or Matthew Stafford. His rushing ability will hinder him in fantasy, but if he lands in the right system and team, he could be a steal.
Overall
Sanders should go in the first round, but he is more of a mid- to late-round prospect. This is a very weak quarterback class, and teams are itching to fill that void by trying to hurry up and change their franchise by drafting the next Patrick Mahomes.
Outside of Cam Ward, there is no quarterback with that much potential to draft in the top ten. Will Sanders be good? Yes, but is he worth a top-ten pick? No. A team that plays a West Coast style system will help Sanders, but he may have to wait a little while before he hears his name called in the first round.
While Sanders has some strong points and weaknesses, he is compared to former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. He has the potential to be a franchise quarterback, but he will need a strong cast around him to help him grow in the NFL. Sanders will succeed, but fans’ expectations should be tempered.
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