A number of high-profile prospects have opted against taking part in on-field drills during the annual NFL Combine. In the case of quarterbacks, that has become increasingly common over time. 
The trend of signal-callers electing not to throw during the Combine will see at least one of the 2025 class’ first-round talents follow suit. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Shedeur Sanders will not throw in the coming days, preferring only to meet with interested teams. Sanders will wait until Colorado’s Pro Day to take part in drills.
[RELATED: Sanders Schedules Visits With Browns, Giants]
This news comes as little surprise given recent trends amongst top quarterback prospects. Many passers have opted out of throwing in lieu of focusing on interviews during the Combine while waiting for Pro Days and individual workouts with teams to do so. Last year, eventual No. 1 pick Caleb Williams skipped the Combine altogether while Jayden Daniels (who went second overall) and Drake Maye (third) attended but did not take part in drills.
On the other hand, Sanders did not participate in the Shrine Bowl, taking the advice of several NFL teams to instead only take part in interviews. The Combine therefore would have provided him with the opportunity to perform in front of general managers and scouts in Indianapolis, but instead that will again not be the case. Sanders’ impression over the coming days and weeks will be key in establishing his draft stock, something which of course will supplement his statistical output during his four-year college tenure.
Working under his father Deion at Colorado for the past two seasons, Sanders racked up 64 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during that span. The 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year’s 74% completion percentage and 8.7 yards per attempt average indicate his floor as a passer at the NFL level, although many see fellow Day 1 lock Cam Ward as having a higher athletic ceiling. It will be interesting to see if Ward throws at the Combine or takes the same approach as Sanders, something which would open the door for the other (and much less acclaimed) passers in the 2025 class to showcase themselves.
Obviously he is going to the Raiders. Why bother working out.
Does the combine have such an outsized impact on draft status that it’s too risky to go and have a bad performance? It seems to me QBs are more popular first round picks because you have a built in, below market, 5th year option available if you get a serviceable NFL QB. One bad performance on combine day isn’t going dissuade teams from potentially reaping that benefit.
I believe if you do drop in the first round, each successive team down the draft is most likely set up for more success from their better win loss record the previous season. There are clear exceptions from trades, retirement or free agency losses but the concept is generally true… the later in the first round you go, the more talented the team that is drafting you will be.
Sanders has not been marketed thus far as a project QB in need of development. A more talented team serves him and the team better by providing him the opportunity to be successful right away.
If I was him, or his team or advisor, I would message out that I can play in any environment with any talent surrounding me. Combine, college campus or local high school, it doesn’t matter, my talent will shine through in any circumstance placed around me as a QB.
To me, the only way you skip the combine is because you are afraid of what people will see. He hasn’t been evaluated as a Caleb Williams surefire NFL prospect to my knowledge. He may not even be the first QB drafted. He or they must be aware of the shakiness in some aspect of his current evaluations, and is afraid of cementing those doubts in potential interested teams.
That’s why I don’t think in his individual case he has much to lose at the combine. Have a great day and work your way up the draft boards, or have a bad day and get drafted by a better team.
Most top quarterback prospects don’t throw at the combine anymore. They do it at their pro days.