Analyst shares worrisome comparisons for Shedeur Sanders

Former NFL general manager/current ESPN personality Mike Tannenbaum and Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated continue to suggest that Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders could slide a "bit further" down the draft order "than we initially expected" earlier in the offseason. 

For a piece published on Thursday morning, Derrik Klassen of The Athletic shared that Sanders has "a good-not-great profile" and "doesn’t have any special athletic traits" that stand out. 

"Realistically," Klassen wrote, "Sanders is a quarterback prospect who can execute an offense but not elevate one. There’s nothing wrong with that. Plenty of quarterbacks spend a decade in the NFL with that kind of skill set, ranging from fringe cases, such as Jacoby Brissett, to long-term starters, such as Kirk Cousins."

While Brissett is a journeyman who has never been a long-term QB1 for any club, Cousins became a four-time Pro Bowl selection while with the team now known as the Washington Commanders and with the Minnesota Vikings. He also possesses an unimpressive 1-3 record across four career playoff starts. 

As it pertains to the 2025 NFL Draft, it seems a certainty that either the Tennessee Titans or a different club will make Miami's Cam Ward, the consensus top quarterback in this year's class, the first pick of the player-selection process. Sanders is the advertised QB2 of what's repeatedly been called a weak group, but it's unclear which franchise unable to land Ward will take a chance on the polarizing prospect. 

The Cleveland Browns (pick No. 2), New York Giants (No. 3), Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6), New York Jets (No. 7) and New Orleans Saints (No. 9) are all realistic landing spots for a young quarterback. However, analysts such as Dane Brugler of The Athletic have said Sanders could slide all the way to the Pittsburgh Steelers at selection No. 21. 

"I struggle with Sanders on film," Klassen explained. "His arm is just okay, and he is not a dynamic athlete. Size isn’t a plus for him, either. Sanders’ game is built more on ball placement and decision-making rather than overwhelming physical traits. There aren’t many first-round picks like that in recent history, and even fewer who have worked out."

Sanders and some currently unknown team that makes him a first-round choice will look to prove people such as Klassen wrong over at least the next couple of years. If nothing else, Sanders should enter the league with plenty of bulletin-board material to use as motivation.