Colorado star Shedeur Sanders is ‘not even close to a first-round pick’ to some scouts, NFL insider reveals
Many expect Shedeur Sanders to be the No. 1 overall pick in this spring’s NFL Draft, but according to one insider, not all 32 teams view him as that type of franchise talent.
Sanders is in play to be drafted at or near the top of the draft after a collegiate career in which he threw for 14,119 yards and 132 touchdowns between Jackson State and Colorado.
But according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, there are some within the league who “don’t have anything close to a first-round grade” at quarterback.
Pelissero, continues speaking The Rich Eisen Showsaid Sanders — son of former NFL star and Colorado coach Deion — would be a “fascinating overall evaluation” ahead of the draft.
“He certainly has fans and he comes in with a high profile, but the idea of him just coming in and becoming the No. 1 pick is probably encouraging. … If I were to guess who comes off the board first, I’d say Shedeur isn’t the first Colorado player to come off the board as it stands right now,” he added via the New York Post.
Instead, Pelissero believes the award will go to Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Sanders was Sanders’ main target at wide receiver and also played cornerback on defense.
Shedeur Sanders apparently isn’t seen by everyone as a first-round talent in the NFL Draft
His teammate, Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, could become No. 1 over him
Shedeur threw two interceptions in Colorado’s Alamo Bowl loss to BYU last week
“Travis Hunter might be a generational player,” Pelissero said. “Maybe someone will fall in love with Shedeur Sanders and go No. 1 overall. I would just say that in my conversations there is a healthy skepticism among people in the league that when it comes to the end of the process, and they get to the last week of April, someone is going to jump out and make a really a high pick to make him a franchise QB.”
Whether Hunter, Sanders or Miami quarterback Cam Ward goes No. 1 overall could depend on how the final draft order turns out.
The quarterback-needy Giants were projected to be ranked No. 1 before beating the Colts last weekend, while the Patriots are now No. 1 according to Tankathon.
In such a scenario, Hunter could go first, as the Patriots selected passer Drake Maye No. 3 overall last year.
Maye has shown promise in his rookie season, rushing for 189.7 yards per game and 15 touchdowns (against 11 picks) across 11 starts.
Sanders, meanwhile, completed a whopping 74 percent of his passes this season, along with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns through the air.
His college career didn’t end on a high, however, as he threw two interceptions (and two touchdowns) in a 36-14 loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl.