It has been quite some time since we have seen an NFL draft prospect as polarizing as Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.
While not the biggest, fastest, or most physically gifted quarterback, Sanders sticks out because of his accuracy, post-snap recognition, and composed demeanor. For everything he lacks in physical tools, Sanders makes up for between the ears.
I’ve planted my flag in the pro-Sanders camp, but the NFL world seems to be incredibly divided about where he should be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Tennessee Titans have the first overall pick in the draft and need a quarterback. Head coach Brian Callahan has had success in the past working with quarterbacks that throw with anticipation and accuracy from the pocket. A player like Sanders, who knows how to take care of the football and operate an offense, feels like an ideal match for Callahan. But there’s no guarantee the Titans will take a quarterback. They may not even pick first overall when everything is said and done.
Shedeur Sanders is the new Aaron Rodgers
With the unpredictability at the top of the draft board and Sanders’ polarizing nature, NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. thinks Sanders could end up with a similar fate to Aaron Rodgers.
On the most recent edition of First Draft with Field Yates, Mel Kiper Jr. explained why Sanders could be heading down the same path as Aaron Rodgers did back in 2005. Rodgers famously fell down the draft board to the Green Bay Packers at 24th overall after being strongly considered for the number one overall pick by his hometown San Francisco 49ers.
“This [2024] quarterback class of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy resembles ’83 when we had six in the first…or does it resemble more of Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, the big three that hit,?” said Kiper. He then stated that the 2025 draft class could end up shaking out similarly to what happened 20 years ago.
“What happened the next year [in 2005]? Alex Smith and then Aaron Rodgers and Jason Cam[bell. Alex Smith went 1, Rodgers dropped to 24. What’s that relate to? Shedeur Sanders,” said Kiper.
Part of the reason Rodgers fell so far in 2005 was the standard NFL teams had set for first round quarterbacks. The success of Manning, Rivers, and Roethlisberger was fresh in the minds of GMs, and teams may have been more cautious or selective about investing high picks in quarterbacks, especially if they weren’t 100% sold on Rodgers or Smith. The success of the 2004 class raised the bar—teams saw Manning, Rivers, and Roethlisberger contributing early and it made them hesitant to gamble on a quarterback unless they were a slam-dunk fit.
That’s what I keep hearing from people around the league in 2025. Everyone looks at the 2024 draft class and looks down on this year’s prospects in comparison. The depth just isn’t’ there with this year’s crop of talent, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some exceptional QBs available.
There were also a lot of questions about team needs in 2005. The Miami Dolphins (picking No. 2) had just signed Gus Frerotte and were still evaluating their QB situation. The Cleveland Browns (No. 3) were still cycling through options post-Tim Couch. The Chicago Bears decided to stick with Rex Grossman and draft Cedric Benson. There were many teams with “needs” at QB that were not sold on Rodgers and didn’t feel their need was dire enough to make it a draft priority.
With all of the veteran options available in free agency or the trade market this offseason, teams could have the same commitment issues with Sanders. Especially because Kiper believes “Cam Ward is the consensus guy” for most teams.
That makes Cam Ward the Alex Smith…and Shedeur Sanders headed down the Aaron Rodgers path.
