One of the more intriguing storylines in this year’s draft coverage is Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders’ stock and how long Sanders might have to wait to hear his name called after the draft opens on April 24. There has been some chatter that the scion of Colorado HC and NFL legend Deion Sanders could slip out of the first round entirely, though ESPN’s draft analysts do not expect that to happen.
In a subscribers-only roundup of the latest draft rumors, ESPN’s Jordan Reid says he does not anticipate Sanders falling past the Jets, who hold the No. 7 overall selection. New York saw its latest swing at a first-round QB prospect (Zach Wilson) fail spectacularly, a miss that undermined the fortunes of otherwise talented rosters, and precipitated the failed Aaron Rodgers experiment.
Gang Green signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40MM contract earlier this month, and while there is still some hope that Fields can grow enough as a passer to sufficiently complement his running ability and to turn himself into a an upper crust QB1, the short-term nature of the deal illustrates his current deficiencies in that regard. Sanders may be an imperfect prospect, but his reportedly poor performance in team interviews does not undo the touch, accuracy, and pocket presence he displayed on the field. It would thus not be terribly surprising to see the Jets’ new regime, with its 2025 starter already in place, take a shot at a high-upside talent.
One player who has been something of a forgotten man in the constant QB-related chatter surrounding the Jets is 2024 fifth-rounder Jordan Travis. Travis was in the midst of a terrific final season at Florida State in 2023 when he suffered a gruesome ankle injury that torpedoed his own draft stock. New York took a flier on him last year, though he redshirted his entire rookie season while rehabbing the injury.
According to Travis’ agent, Deiric Jackson, the Jets’ since-ousted staff rushed Travis’ rehab, thereby undermining his chances of seeing game action in 2024.
“His rehab with the Jets was not the best,” Jackson said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “They tried to rush him. It was too fast. There was pressure on the coaching staff and they tried to get him going sooner than the timeline really was. That caused the setback, and we had to shut him down completely.”
The nature of the setback Jackson mentioned is unclear, though Cimini says new HC Aaron Glenn and his staffers are excited to work with Travis. At the moment, the former Seminole is behind Fields and veteran Tyrod Taylor on the depth chart, and drafting a player like Sanders would immediately put Travis’ Jets future in doubt. But if the club takes a different route in the draft, Travis could get enough reps to prove himself worthy of at least a backup job down the road.
For all of the talk suggesting Ole Miss signal-caller Jaxson Dart or even Louisville’s Tyler Shough may have surpassed Sanders on draft boards around the league, Reid believes the Giants – who own the No. 3 overall pick – would be hard-pressed to pass on Sanders. With Cam Ward looking increasingly likely to go to the Titans at No. 1 overall, one AFC executive told Reid the Giants are praying the Browns take a top non-QB talent with the No. 2 pick, thus leaving Sanders available to be selected at No. 3. Just yesterday, we learned that Big Blue’s signing of Jameis Winston would not preclude the hot-seat tandem of GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll from signing a veteran passer like Rodgers or Russell Wilson and adding a QB via their top draft choice.
In the same subscribers-only piece cited above, ESPN’s Field Yates confirms Sanders has a legitimate chance to be a top-three choice and is unlikely to fall out of the top 10-15 selections (despite some sources expressing their worry about making Sanders a top-10 pick). Similarly, Yates and Reid colleague Matt Miller notes the chatter about a dramatic Sanders slide has not come from anyone employed by an NFL club.
Miller acknowledges the Browns remain a viable landing spot for Sanders, and he believes the Steelers and their No. 21 pick represent the prospect’s floor. Pittsburgh has designs on a championship run in 2025, as it recently acquired and extended WR D.K. Metcalf and is seemingly making a hard push for Rodgers. That said, HC Mike Tomlin’s famous streak of .500-or-better seasons rarely leaves the team in position to draft a premium QB prospect, and the 41-year-old Rodgers (and even the 36-year-old Wilson, if the Steelers revisit that possibility) are obviously short-term fixes. The pre-draft concerns that could lead to Sanders falling a bit could also represent a real opportunity for Pittsburgh, as was the case when its AFC North rival Ravens nabbed Lamar Jackson with the No. 32 pick in 2018.
This is all ESPN click bait BS. Thanks for reposting it here so we don’t have to waste our money reading this nonsense on that site.
Do you think Sanders will, in fact, fall out of the first round? Totally fair if so, but that’s really the crux of what ESPN is saying here.
I doubt he will fall out of the first round. But I also doubt he will succeed in the NFL as a QB. Like Fields, Sanders has all the physical tools and the athleticism and physical talents.
Both have been able to survive and find success due to the physical talents. But both do not perform well in interviews and chalk boards because they don’t know how to actually manage the position. I’m not saying there stupid or anything like that. Just that they don’t seem to have the ability to play the position inside their own heads. Recognizing the coverages, knowing the check downs, etc.
Sanders isn’t like Fields at all. Sanders thrives on reads and accuracy while having less than great arm strength and athleticism.
Agreed. Sanders is just a better QB, all around, and a much better passer
Doubt he falls to the Steelers but he’d be an upgrade over what they’ve had
No he wouldn’t be.
Yea he would definitely be an upgrade. To easy to see. Well for people that don’t hate the kid because of his dad.
And I don’t get the hate. Why? How is Deion any different than any other major coach today?
Point is, he’s not.
Kids *want* to play for the guy. To me, that says a great deal
Hate what college athletics has become, from NIL money to the transfer portal to a corrupt NCAA hierarchy. It can’t be easy to coach and recruit in this atmosphere and it’s not at all about “college” anymore.
To me, it’s worth “hating” what it’s all become, nothing more
Another not important comment by u. Sanders is the real my friend .
I remember a Browns QB from the past that was like that, and he did very well — Bernie Kosar. If Sanders can replicate that, then I’m okay with him.
They’re both black, so they must be the same. That’s basically what he said in his comment. I couldn’t think of two more different prospects. Sanders reminds me of Chad Pennington if I had to comp him to any past player.
Sanders won’t have Hunter to bail him out in the NFL. His, you go down to the red car and cut across, and you run down to the maple tree and curl back style of playground football won’t work in the NFL. Also we are severely lacking in seeing what he can and can’t do because Dad sure wasn’t going to call plays that make Sonny look bad. Lots of smoke and mirrors and a generational talent that played both ways contributed to making him look better than he really is. This is just my opinion, but I think it’s reasonable. To me looks like another Anthony Richardson or Justin Fields.
Yeah, you’re really just comparing him to black quarterbacks. Fields and Richardson are both exceptional athletes with big arms. Sanders is a less than great athlete who thrives on reads and accuracy. No, he won’t have Travis Hunter, but he had an absolutely atrocious offensive line in college. And you think he won’t have a coach scheming to his strengths in the pros, too?
And daddy kept taking the play calling duties from the OC, then giving them back, then taking them again. And who else but Richardson and Fields would I compare him to? They are scared QB’s that run at the first sight of trouble. Okay, how does he compare with Kirk Cousins, Jared Goff or Baker Mayfield? No comparison, because they are pocket QB’s? He’s supposedly a dual threat QB, but he does neither well. Hmmm, just like Fields and Richardson. Daddy covered for him a lot and he’ll end up getting exposed. All these executives are trying to find the Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson and they think anyone with an abundance of melanin is going to play better than the the white guy pocket passer.
He’s not supposedly a dual threat quarterback, though. The guy had negative rushing yards the last two seasons, while this past year he led the nation in completion percentage. He’s compared to guys like Bridgewater, Tua, and Chad Pennington a lot more than he’s compared to Fields and Richardson, who aren’t remotely similar to him. You can dislike the Sanders family without making things up about what kind of player Shedeur is.
So, because I think Sanders will stink up the place (wherever that may be) I hate the Sanders family? You better go to YouTube and rewatch some Colorado games. Deion was a helluva football player and a decent baseball player, one of the best bunt for a hit I’ve ever seen. But his kid has been sheltered during his college career. Dad has confused the issue by taking the play calling duties away from the OC then giving them back, several times. (Up to 7 from reading about the team). Why? Dad wanted to showcase Sonny and his strengths, and hide his flaws. Ken Anderson had a 70% completion rate for the Bengals. Held the record for 20 years. What did that get him? A Superbowl loss and not much else. You can’t live on 5-10 yard dink passes. Unless he lands in a wide receiver wonderland he’s going to have to change his game. And he better learn to run or he’s going to get sacked 70 times.
Lol Fields was in the national championship his last year and played against much better competition than Sanders.
Sanders also isn’t all that athletic.
But I agree in having doubts about Sanders as an NFL QB.
I saw a lot of Fields at OSU. Great athlete.
Im not sure about the “much better competition angle” but ok. You’d have us believe Colorado is a D3 school
And your comment that Sanders isn’t all that athletic is simply laughable.
I’m not enamored with Ward or Sanders or really, anyone else as the prototypical first round QB. But take a look at the QBs coming out over the past few years, in general. Yeah, a few pan out. Most end up holding a clipboard
Lol are you serious?
He played in the Big Ten and regularly played against the best programs in football outside the Big Ten.
He played Alabama in the national championship.
Saying he didn’t play against much better competition than Sanders is unbelievably delusional.
The big 10 consisted of two teams, Michigan and Ohio State. The rest of the conference stunk when he was there. Penn State never beats anyone under Franklin, and the rest of the conference was garbage.
@bueno – 2024 draft alone had 6 QB picks in the first 12 selections. All of them are starters, and a couple with strong success. Those drafted later were picks with the intention of holding a clipboard. As for the comment regarding Sanders, folks are pointing out that his QB skills stand out more than his athleticism, unlike Fields. I watched enough Steelers games and a few Bears games to know he’s not a solid QB option unless he’s in college.
Much better competition? Wow. All you had to type to prove how ignorant you are or just hate because of his dad.
Lol yeah I must be a hater for pointing out Colorado barley played anybody compared to Ohio State with Fields as QB.
I must be a hater for pointing out Colorado barley played anybody compared to Ohio State with Fields as QB.
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That’s a fair statement, but supporting cast probably means more. Fields had a better offensive line and more targets.
You are a buffoon
A valid sanders comp is Brock Purdy. Hard nose pocket presence that can hurt you on draft day. By air. And by foot. Supreme reader over Brock. And black so continues success unlike his white counterpart. This fields comp garbage. Fields just under devoloped. Tries to read defense with his legs. lol 😂
I don’t think you’ve seen Sanders play…
I’ve seen him play plenty.
Stop jockriding.
Ok Stevie Wonder
Fields scored the highest score ever on the so called football IQ test, lol. Some of you just be talking to talk.
so called football IQ test
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The IQ test is beyond meaningless. I can ace that without even studying. Processing time is more important, and much tougher to assess. Guys like Mahomes and Montana have about a -0- processing time.
I just cant see it happening.
I initially had someone trading up to like 25ish for him from 33-35
But I think the Saints will gladly take a high r2 + a 2026 1st for pick 9
Giants prob getting both Shedeur and Hunter
I think that’d be a trade New Orleans would wait for draft night on, just in case McMillan falls, as unlikely as that might be; but I do think it’d be one they’d happily do.
McMillan is impossible to rank, but i definitely have him available for saints at 9
If Saints did my NYG trade, they’d have picks 34 and 39ish
Could package one of those with a 3rd and move up and get a good WR in the 20s (potentially even McMillan), but more likely Golden, Egbuka or Burden.
I have Edgbuka going 31 to Bills, so imagine that, adding the Giants 2026 R1 + their own r2 + giving up (say a 4th and 34th to move up to 30th and land Egbuka too
That would be a masterclass for the Saints, and the Giants get their franchise QB , so they wouldn’t complain either
I just think if Browns don’t take Sanders, then he slips to at least 9, so Giants could be very tempted to dangle that 2026 R1 to get their top 2 targets on draft day
Giants have pick 34. I don’t think Sanders goes past 15 so that would have to be a big trade up.
Yes sir. The wind does seem to be blowing that way
I feel bad for any team dumb enough to draft Sanders that high.
I feel bad for anyone as dumb as you. Can’t even chew gum and walk.
pot.kettle.
Lol butthurt jockriders say what?
What are you, in middle school?
lol no way he would fall past Jerry at 12….
The original Barnum and Bailey ringmaster
I would welcome him in Dallas as he isn’t Dak… so there is that
If the Steelers are thinking about taking a low ceiling QB with their first round pick instead of taking a DT or CB, then maybe signing Rodgers isn’t as dumb as it seems.
Like if burning yourself on the stove keeps you from jumping out of a plane sans parachute.
If he’s not worth trading up for in the top 10 because he’s such an obvious franchise QB, let someone waste 3 years with him.
He is worth a gamble…but I am not the biggest fan
Not falling out of the 1st round. If he falls it will be similar to Lamar’s.
who cares about the interview process. Tom Brady has the IQ of a gnat and he’s going to the Hof. My God, that guy’s stupid but he knows how to play QB and that’s all that matters. You have to remember that 90% of football players wouldn’t have passed highschool if they didn’t play football and get special treatment.
This is one of the dumbest posts I’ve ever read on the internet.
Genuinely embarrassing take.
Which gnat? It matters.
And terrible terry Bradshaw was a rumpkin like not important and he wears multiple rings.
I swear, sometimes when I read the comments on this site, I feel like I’m on Reddit.
Sanders isn’t worth a first round pick if we are being honest. The media hype and name brand are have given him so much exposure with most of it being unwarranted. This is the truth. He holds onto the ball too long, is not a dynamic athlete, decent arm.
How many games of his have you watched? What he does well is read a defense and process quickly unlike most college level QBs. He holds the ball to long but that’s mostly because of the offense and slow developing plays Colorado ran. He has a fairly good arm and is accurate. Stop repeating media BS. Guess you think Cam is the best QB in this draft too.lol. BTW. He is not even top 3.
Sanders falling to the Steelers would be a dream outcome for the kid. Sure you lose a few mill on your rookie contract but you’d be in a much better situation than say Giants or Raiders or anyone in the top 10.
I do wonder if 49ers would be tempted to take Sanders knowing they can trade Purdy and let someone else pay him mega bucks and try to do a reset with a new rookie QB contract for 5 years.
Dear lord what?
Purdy is so much better than him it’s not even funny.
Purdy is also going to cost minimum 35 40 mill a year compared to Sanders who will make 4 years 25 mill or so as the 11th overall pick and come with a reasonable 5th year option instead of an expensive franchise tag.
Purdy is a below average QB who fell into a good situation. You’re comment shiws lack of football knowledge.
Sit this one out shiws
Not falling past pick 3. Anyone saying different is full of crap.
The Giants will trade up to take Sanders- the Giants fear if Ward goes Number One- that the Browns may select Sanders instead of the Penn State defensive end. Imho the Giants will move up to get the quarterback that they craving for. Especially with a GM/ Head Coach on the Hot seat
There are a whole lot of actual Giants fans who differ with you…..Graham, Carter, or Hunter at #3…..Sanders just has too much flash for Marra and when you get him, you get Papa too….no thanks….let Jerry Jones make that mistake…..
Having watched Fields play against the Lions numerous times I would easily take him over Sanders. I think he has untapped potential as a passer and was a major threat when he tucked the ball and ran. Being in Chicago did him no favors.
Yes, more comments by ESPN “experts”…..