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Sometimes the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. On the football field, Shedeur Sanders can certainly relate.
The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback and son of Deion Sanders is just about ready to close the book on his college career and start a new one in the NFL.
Sanders is considered a top quarterback in this year's NFL draft, bringing plenty of experience to the table. A four-year starter between Jackson State and Colorado, he is one of the more seasoned prospects in a world where college athletes often fast-track their way to the pros.
Whether that experience helps Sanders at the next level remains to be seen, but a weak quarterback class ensures he shouldn't have to wait long before his name is called.
From an on-field perspective, Sanders has one last chance to make a statement to all 32 teams when Colorado's pro day takes place on April 4. He notoriously skipped the workouts at the NFL combine and the Big 12 conference's pro day, allowing the tape to speak for itself.
Now he has the chance, with all eyes on him, to show off his talents and silence some critics. He'll soon find out which NFL city will be home next season. Here's a look at the teams that could come calling on draft night.
NFL MOCK DRAFT: Expert predictions following major moves in free agency
First round pick: Second overall
The chance that Sanders goes No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans seems slim at best, making the team with the second pick the next best thing. Sanders doesn't come with as much hype as other quarterback prospects have in the past, meaning he has a wide range of outcomes. The draft starts for him with the Browns, who are still stuck climbing out of the Deshaun Watson-sized hole they dug a few years ago. If Cleveland sees something in the young signal caller, they'll have their chance to take him.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: Deshaun Watson trade was 'a big swing and miss'
First round pick: Third overall
The Giants have already signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, but they are short-term fixes that likely last one year with Big Blue. If Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are convinced that Sanders could be the long-term answer, they will pounce at the opportunity to select the Colorado prospect. The head coach and general manager are firmly in win-now mode thanks to their previous failures, which opens the door for the Giants to go in countless directions when they're on the clock. If Sanders slips by the Giants, it could be a longer than expected evening for him.
First round pick: Sixth overall
Like the Giants, the Raiders don't have to draft a quarterback this year. They could easily pass on one after trading for Geno Smith, meaning the quarterback spot is an issue for another day. Vegas is in a funky spot as a franchise, however. They brought in Smith and hired Pete Carroll, two people who don't figure to be coaching or playing long-term.
The Raiders could opt for the half-measure approach of taking someone like Sanders and committing to a partial rebuild. The other option is going all-in to win-now and drafting a skill position player like Ashton Jeanty or one of the available receivers. Considering their recent run of on-field failures, the latter seems more likely here. Still, the Raiders can't be ruled out if Sanders is unexpectedly available.
First round pick: Ninth overall
The Saints are in prime striking distance to take Sanders if a draft-day slide comes to fruition. Sitting at the back half of the top-10, they've been flying under the radar as a potential quarterback team all offseason. The Derek Carr experiment won't last forever and as the clock ticks closer to his inevitable departure, New Orleans will be left searching for a new quarterback in the draft. Whether that comes this year or next is anyone's guess, but the Saints have been trending towards a rebuild for years. It's been a long time since they committed to one.
Hiring Kellen Moore might be a good way to kickstart that, with the Sean Payton era finally in the rearview. It's the first time since 2005 that Payton, or one of his assistant coaches, won't run the sidelines. Moore will look to put his stamp on the team, and if Sanders falls, he might just be the guy who can accomplish that.
First round pick: 18th overall
The Seahawks just signed Sam Darnold in free agency, but it remains to be seen whether he'll be a steady option long-term. His supporting cast in Seattle is a significant downgrade from Minnesota's, especially after the Seahawks dealt DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Darnold has never been one to thrive under pressure and without the presence of top receivers, a stable offensive line and Kevin O'Connell, this could be an experiment that won't last.
The 28-year-old's three-year deal worth $100.5 million is essentially disguised as a two-year pact, according to Spotrac, since Seattle can easily get out of the arrangement after the 2026 season. If Sanders falls down the draft board, this would be a spot where the Seahawks can potentially land their quarterback of the future while giving themselves some Darnold insurance for 2025. In a way, it would be fairly similar to the Atlanta Falcons' process from a year ago. They signed Kirk Cousins to help the team win-now but drafted Michael Penix Jr. with an eye toward the future. Penix ultimately became the starter after Cousins struggled and has shown enough flashes to stick around.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shedeur Sanders best fits: Giants, Saints, Seahawks top landing spots
Continue reading...
The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback and son of Deion Sanders is just about ready to close the book on his college career and start a new one in the NFL.
Sanders is considered a top quarterback in this year's NFL draft, bringing plenty of experience to the table. A four-year starter between Jackson State and Colorado, he is one of the more seasoned prospects in a world where college athletes often fast-track their way to the pros.
Whether that experience helps Sanders at the next level remains to be seen, but a weak quarterback class ensures he shouldn't have to wait long before his name is called.
From an on-field perspective, Sanders has one last chance to make a statement to all 32 teams when Colorado's pro day takes place on April 4. He notoriously skipped the workouts at the NFL combine and the Big 12 conference's pro day, allowing the tape to speak for itself.
Now he has the chance, with all eyes on him, to show off his talents and silence some critics. He'll soon find out which NFL city will be home next season. Here's a look at the teams that could come calling on draft night.
NFL MOCK DRAFT: Expert predictions following major moves in free agency
Shedeur Sanders landing spots
Cleveland Browns
First round pick: Second overall
The chance that Sanders goes No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans seems slim at best, making the team with the second pick the next best thing. Sanders doesn't come with as much hype as other quarterback prospects have in the past, meaning he has a wide range of outcomes. The draft starts for him with the Browns, who are still stuck climbing out of the Deshaun Watson-sized hole they dug a few years ago. If Cleveland sees something in the young signal caller, they'll have their chance to take him.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: Deshaun Watson trade was 'a big swing and miss'
New York Giants
First round pick: Third overall
The Giants have already signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, but they are short-term fixes that likely last one year with Big Blue. If Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are convinced that Sanders could be the long-term answer, they will pounce at the opportunity to select the Colorado prospect. The head coach and general manager are firmly in win-now mode thanks to their previous failures, which opens the door for the Giants to go in countless directions when they're on the clock. If Sanders slips by the Giants, it could be a longer than expected evening for him.
Las Vegas Raiders
First round pick: Sixth overall
Like the Giants, the Raiders don't have to draft a quarterback this year. They could easily pass on one after trading for Geno Smith, meaning the quarterback spot is an issue for another day. Vegas is in a funky spot as a franchise, however. They brought in Smith and hired Pete Carroll, two people who don't figure to be coaching or playing long-term.
The Raiders could opt for the half-measure approach of taking someone like Sanders and committing to a partial rebuild. The other option is going all-in to win-now and drafting a skill position player like Ashton Jeanty or one of the available receivers. Considering their recent run of on-field failures, the latter seems more likely here. Still, the Raiders can't be ruled out if Sanders is unexpectedly available.
New Orleans Saints
First round pick: Ninth overall
The Saints are in prime striking distance to take Sanders if a draft-day slide comes to fruition. Sitting at the back half of the top-10, they've been flying under the radar as a potential quarterback team all offseason. The Derek Carr experiment won't last forever and as the clock ticks closer to his inevitable departure, New Orleans will be left searching for a new quarterback in the draft. Whether that comes this year or next is anyone's guess, but the Saints have been trending towards a rebuild for years. It's been a long time since they committed to one.
Hiring Kellen Moore might be a good way to kickstart that, with the Sean Payton era finally in the rearview. It's the first time since 2005 that Payton, or one of his assistant coaches, won't run the sidelines. Moore will look to put his stamp on the team, and if Sanders falls, he might just be the guy who can accomplish that.
Seattle Seahawks
First round pick: 18th overall
The Seahawks just signed Sam Darnold in free agency, but it remains to be seen whether he'll be a steady option long-term. His supporting cast in Seattle is a significant downgrade from Minnesota's, especially after the Seahawks dealt DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Darnold has never been one to thrive under pressure and without the presence of top receivers, a stable offensive line and Kevin O'Connell, this could be an experiment that won't last.
The 28-year-old's three-year deal worth $100.5 million is essentially disguised as a two-year pact, according to Spotrac, since Seattle can easily get out of the arrangement after the 2026 season. If Sanders falls down the draft board, this would be a spot where the Seahawks can potentially land their quarterback of the future while giving themselves some Darnold insurance for 2025. In a way, it would be fairly similar to the Atlanta Falcons' process from a year ago. They signed Kirk Cousins to help the team win-now but drafted Michael Penix Jr. with an eye toward the future. Penix ultimately became the starter after Cousins struggled and has shown enough flashes to stick around.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shedeur Sanders best fits: Giants, Saints, Seahawks top landing spots
Continue reading...
