Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is being compared to a bust, which may explain why he could fall during the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24-26
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman released his mock draft on Wednesday, which featured opinions from college coaches and NFL sources. Feldman had the New York Giants take Sanders with pick No. 3.
He noted Sanders reminds one coach of San Francisco 49ers backup QB Mac Jones, raising questions about the Colorado star’s upside.
“Yeah, he’s smooth, and he operates well,” the coach said of Sanders, “but if he operates so well, why does he take so many sacks? I know his O-line is awful, and I get that to an extent, but I’m watching him, and like 40 percent of the sacks are on him. Dude, just throw the ball!”
Sanders (6-foot-2, 212 pounds) was sacked 94 times in two seasons at Colorado. This suggests he struggles to improvise, like Jones. That’s one reason he failed to keep progressing after making the Pro Bowl in his rookie season with the New England Patriots in 2021.
In his last two seasons with New England, 2021 No. 15 overall pick Jones went 8-17 as a starter and split time with QB Bailey Zappe, a fourth-round pick in 2022.
After New England traded him to Jacksonville in 2024, he tossed the same number of touchdown passes and interceptions (eight) in 10 games with the Jaguars.
Sanders completed 71.8% of his passes for 7,364 yards and 64 TD passes in two seasons with Colorado. However, he didn’t test at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he could’ve proved he has the elite traits teams covet.
With these concerns remaining, it wouldn’t be stunning if Sanders slides during the draft. On “NFL Countdown” Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said it’s “increasingly unlikely” he’s a top-three pick (h/t Bleacher Report’s Paul Kasabian).
Sanders’ pro day is scheduled for Friday on NFL Network at 2:30 p.m. ET, where he can show he’s a better prospect than Jones and improve his stock.
