As the son of Deion Sanders, the term “under-the-radar” will never be associated with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. His name precedes him, and that pressure has forged a confident quarterback capable of handling himself in game-deciding moments.
Sanders committed to Jackson State out of high school as a four-star and top-250 prospect. Over the course of two seasons at the HBCU, he set numerous program records and led the Tigers to a 23-2 record, as well as their first conference championships since 2007. Jackson State made its first appearances in the Celebration Bowl, which is known as the HBCU National Championship game.
When his father was hired at Colorado, Sanders followed despite having several other, more high-profile opportunities. The Buffaloes went 4-8 in 2023 before finishing 9-4 this past season. The program has had one other winning season (2016) since 2005.
After a decorated collegiate career, Sanders is in the running to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. His draft process starts at the East-West Shrine Bowl over the next week in Texas. Sanders is by far the highest-rated prospect at the all-star event, so a lot of eyes will be on how he performs both on and off the field.
Below is a comprehensive draft profile for Sanders, including his scouting report, prospect ranking, pro comparison, college and high school accolades and overall NFL outlook.
Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Profile
- Age as of Week 1: 23 years old
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 215 pounds
- Hometown: Dallas, Texas
- Interesting fact: Son of Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders
CBS Prospect Ranking
- Position: No. 2 QB
- Overall: No. 9
Consensus big board ranking: No. 2 (No. 2 QB)
To check out all of CBSSports.com’s most recent mock drafts, click here.
NFL Comparison
Shedeur Sanders is compared to Geno Smith:
- Geno Smith Stats:
- CMP%: 70.4
- YDs: 4320
- TD: 21
- INT: 15
- YD/Att: 7.47
While Smith was a victim of circumstance early in his career, landing with a Jets team incapable of supporting him, he has flourished in his short time with Seattle. Sanders currently reflects some of Smith’s early challenges.
NFL Landing Spots
- Las Vegas Raiders: Currently have the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
- New York Giants: With the No. 3 pick, they must resolve their quarterback dilemma.
- New York Jets: Have a potential issue with Aaron Rodgers’ future commitments, leaving them unclear about the quarterback position. Picking seventh, the Jets might need to trade up.
Accolades
- 2024: Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (nation’s top upperclassman QB)
- 2024: Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year
- 2024: First-team All-Big 12
- 2024: Set school records for passing touchdowns (4,134), passing yards (37) and completion percentage (74.0%)
- 2023: Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year
- 2022 (at Jackson State): SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
- 2022 (at Jackson State): Deacon Jones Trophy (best player among HBCU schools)
- 2021 (at Jackson State): Jerry Rice Award (best freshman in FCS)
Scouting Report
- Strengths:
- Good accuracy: Completed 70.1% of his passes for nearly 15,000 yards, 134 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions.
- Surgical from a clean pocket.
- Confidence and calmness in critical moments.
- Weaknesses:
- Holds onto the ball too long.
- Drifts in the pocket unnecessarily.
- Average athlete: Average arm strength, not known for rushing capabilities.
College Stats
| Year | Games | Comp% | Yards | TD | INT | Pass Eff. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (Colorado) | 13 | 70.4% | 4134 | 37 | 10 | 168.2 |
| 2023 (Colorado) | 13 | 69.3% | 3230 | 27 | 3 | 151.7 |
| 2022 (Jackson State) | 11 | 70.6% | 3732 | 40 | 6 | 160.4 |
| 2021 (Jackson State) | 13 | 65.9% | 3231 | 30 | 8 | 151.7 |
Check out Shedeur Sanders’s full 247Sports profile, here. For his MaxPreps profile, click here.
The 2025 NFL Draft is set to occur from April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. More draft coverage can be found at CBSSports.com, including the weekly mock drafts and a regularly available look at the eligible prospects.
