Path to the No. 1 overall pick: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders

One of the most fascinating prospects of the modern era is Shedeur Sanders. He was fourth in the nation in passing yards per game, but his squad finished 4-8. Is he a bona fide star or does he benefit from his dad serving as head coach? Is he a legit first round prospect or have we been tricked by the hype around his last name? We will find out in 2024. Let’s look at how he got here, and the heights he could rise to in his path to the No. 1 overall pick.

As a Recruit 

Unlike some that would be considered potential No. 1 overall picks, Shedeur Sanders was not a highly coveted recruit. A high three star on some service and a low four star on others, the 247Sports Composite ranking put him as the No. 26 Quarterback in the Class of 2021. Though there was some flirtation with Alabama, Sanders spent time as a commit to Florida Atlantic University before flipping to Jackson State to play for his father.

In College

In three seasons, Sanders has thrown for over 10,000 yards in his career – though his first two seasons came at Jackson State. What stands out, however, is his 97-17 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Though he was highly prolific in his one season at Colorado, the team finished 4-8, losing its last six games. While he was stellar in the opening game against TCU – throwing for over 500 yards – he struggled behind a porous offensive line against better competition. Significant accusations of favoritism have followed Deion’s coaching, and the locker room culture has been oft-criticized. Nevertheless, the Buffaloes will be one of the most watched teams in college football once again this season.

Skill Set

Sanders takes care of the football – a remarkable feat given how poorly his offensive line blocked for him at times last season. That said, a counter to that is that he holds onto the ball too long, not risking the interception, but taking a lot of sacks. He’s a solid passer, though his arm strength won’t be confused with, say, Carson Beck’s. There’s a “gamer” component to his game, and he makes a lot of creative/savvy decisions. His pre-snap reads are good, and he seems to process the game quickly. There’s also no doubting his toughness. He possesses solid mobility, though he’s not much of a runner. He’s also not big – though his size is more-than-adequate in light of recent highly drafted QBs like Bryce Young and Kyler Murray.

Path to the top overall pick

There are a lot of opinions on Sanders, and his grade is currently all over the place. I tend to see him as a fringe NFL starter receiving too much buzz by virtue of his last name, but it’s impossible to ignore the on-field production. To pass more physically impressive prospects on the board, Sanders is going to need to produce in a big way – and that means playing winning football. The Buffaloes play a really lackluster schedule. While the intrigue around “Coach Prime” will give them TV opportunities, it’s possible the toughest game they’ll play is a September 28th visit to UCF. When vying for the top QB spot against SEC stars like Carson Beck, Jalen Milroe, and Jaxon Dart, that’s flat out uninspiring. Compiling a middling record against that competition will likely put Sanders in the Day 2 conversation, regardless of what stats he delivers. Also expect a lot of discussion around “Daddy Ball” and his father’s influence. NFL teams don’t like distractions. Everyone knows Deion is already trying to influence the draft process, and he's promising to weigh in on which teams can take his son. Does anyone think that will stop once Shedeur is drafted? I’d expect NFL teams to be evaluating Deion and whether his son can show some independence.