Shedeur Sanders might be a high-profile player thanks to his father Deion, but he’s not just propped up by his father’s successes. Shedeur has rewritten the record books at both Jackson State and Colorado, turning himself into a genuine option for the number one overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. What better way to celebrate that potential than by taking a deeper look into what he has to offer?
Height: 6 ft – 2 in
Weight: 215 lb
Age: 22
Position: Quarterback
College: Colorado
College Career Summary
Sanders started his career at Jackson State University in 2021. He played 13 games and finished with an 11-2 record. We got to see him throw for over 3,200 yards and 30 touchdowns compared to just eight interceptions. The following season, his numbers took a huge jump. He finished with a 12-1 record, 3,700 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and only six interceptions this go around. His development was progressing fast. Not to mention that he rushed for just under 200 yards that season with six additional touchdowns. Then, he made the move to Colorado with his father Deion being the head coach. That first season didn’t exactly go as planned, well when it came to his record at least. The team was 4-7 with him throwing 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns. However, a positive was that he had just three interceptions in the year, improving in that department despite dipping in every other. And finally, we get to 2024, a year that will be remembered for him. He was a much improved 9-4 this season with 4,134 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Colorado even had their chance during a bowl game despite being completely off the map before he arrived. He ended his college career with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Deacon Jones Trophy, and the Jerry Rice award. Sanders also was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022, the SWAC Freshman of the Year in 2021, and was named to the First-Team All-Big 12, First-Team All-SWAC, and Second Team All-SWAC throughout those three years.
2024 Season
Games Played: 13
Yards: 4,134 passing, -50 rushing
Touchdowns: 37 passing, four rushing
Career Stats:
- 14,327 passing yards
- 134 passing touchdowns
- 17 rushing touchdowns
- 27 interceptions
- 36-14 record
Passing/Rushing/Receiving/Defensive Metrics:
- 1 career completion percentage
- 4 career quarterback rating
- 9 yards per completion for his career
Strengths:
- Elite Processing Speed
- Excellent Accuracy In Short And Intermediate Passing Areas
- Rapid Release
- Displays Poise Under Pressure
- Understands Defensive Leverage Extremely Well
- Good But Not Great Mobility To Avoid Pressure
- Natural Command Of The Huddle And The Offense As A Whole
Weaknesses:
- Can Be Confused By Complex Defensive Looks
- Attempts To Salvage Plays to A Detriment, Making Them Worse
- Might Be Too Confident In His Arm Strength Sometimes, Forcing Throws
- Blitz Packages Have Caught Him Off Guard Too Often
- Must Climb The Pocket Better Rather Than Drop Further Back
High Pressure Situations/Clutch Gene:
Shedeur Sanders got to compete in the Valero Alamo Bowl with Colorado this season, taking on the 17th-ranked BYU squad. Unfortunately, that game didn’t go well, with Colorado losing 36-14. Sanders completed 16 of his 23 pass attempts for only 208 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He was also sacked four times. In 2022, he was in the Cricket Celebration Bowl, losing to NCCU by a score of 41-34 in overtime. This time, he played significantly better. He completed 30 of his 40 attempts for 349 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. That same season, he played in the SWAC Championship Game against SOU, winning 43-24. It was another stellar showing, with him completing 30 of his 43 pass attempts for 320 yards, four touchdowns, and once again zero interceptions. Finally, as a freshman, he played in both the Cricket Celebration Bowl against SCST and the SWAC Championship Game against PV. Against SCST, his team lost 31-10 and he had completed 16 of his 36 pass attempts for 175 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. The other performance was better, though he had just eight completions on 16 attempts for 85 yards, a touchdown, and an interception during a team victory. Despite a poor showing against BYU in 2024, Sanders has shown an ability to rise to the occasion more often than not.
NFL Projection And Fantasy Relevance:
Shedeur Sanders has the potential to be drafted with the number one overall selection. If the New York Giants remained at the top of the board, then I would have full confidence in him being the first to go. However, they fell back into the draft and the Tennessee Titans have the premier spot. Based on the reports, they seem to favor Cam Ward or a “generational” talent instead. In the best-case scenario for Sanders, he’s going to be taken with the top pick anyway. The worst-case scenario is him falling out of the first round entirely, which doesn’t seem all that likely. If I were to guess, I would imagine that he winds up being a top-10 selection regardless, as there are too many quarterback-needy teams to believe he’ll be passed up on that many times. When it comes to fantasy relevance, it’s extremely high for him. He’s shown an ability to put up big scoring numbers and passing yards in college, which is one of those traits that can translate to explosive plays at the next level. Plus, wherever he gets drafted, likely, he start immediately, making him a fantasy target straight away like how Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams wound up being.
From everything that I’ve seen regarding Sanders, he is someone who looks like he can be a genuine franchise cornerstone for whatever team that drafts him. He’s got the confidence, ability, and swagger to command a team from the inside out. He can instantly increase the confidence in the squad in the eyes of the fans, and he can make a name for himself in fantasy football with an explosive playmaking ability. This isn’t to say that he’s going to instantly be a generational player, because he does have some baggage in the form of publicity that his father brings. However, that’s a risk that many teams will want to make given their current quarterback situations. The positives outweigh the negatives.