Although Shedeur Sanders has been flinging with the NY Giants for a while now, that was back when he was a rumored No. 1 pick. Now, things have changed. The Colorado Buffaloes star has been leading the 2025 NFL Draft talk show. And if former Giants head coach Pat Shurmur—Shedeur’s offensive coordinator at CU—has his way, passing on Sanders is only justifiable if you’re taking his teammate, Travis Hunter, instead. “I’ve talked to all 32 teams, some of them multiple times. Some of those teams oughta get an Airbnb out here [in Boulder, CO]. If you need a quarterback, draft Shedeur. If you don’t need a quarterback, take Travis. As my daughter would say, it’s not that deep,” Shurmur said. That’s not just a ringing endorsement—it’s a line in the sand.

Yet, despite his talent, Shedeur Sanders remains a polarizing figure in the draft conversation. ESPN’s Louis Riddick sees the skepticism for what it really is: a byproduct of his last name. “People have been at this game, so to speak, of trying to talk certain prospects down for years,” Riddick said on The Dan Patrick Show. “Deion is a lightning rod. That’s where it starts. It doesn’t even start with Shedeur. It starts with his father, then it just trickles down to him.”

Riddick, who played with Deion Sanders in Atlanta, knows firsthand how the Hall of Famer’s swagger and confidence have always rubbed some people the wrong way. “People don’t like flashy guys like that who can back it up. They just don’t. They don’t like people who are strong, confident. It’s funny, like, we love it, then with some people, we don’t love it.”

That reality has followed Shedeur every step of the way. Even before he took a snap at Colorado, there were whispers that his success was more about his father’s name than his own ability. But anyone who watched him carve up defenses last season knows better. Sanders is a surgeon in the pocket, posting one of the highest completion percentages in the nation while making NFL-level reads in Deion Sanders’ offense.

He doesn’t have a bazooka for an arm, but as Riddick pointed out, that’s not the defining trait of great quarterbacks. “As far as him individually … does he have Cam Ward’s arm? No. Do you need Cam Ward’s arm? Do you need John Elway’s arm? Do you need Josh Allen’s arm in order to play high-level winning football in the NFL? No.”

What Sanders lacks in pure arm strength, he makes up for in anticipation, accuracy, and poise—traits that often separate good quarterbacks from great ones. And make no mistake, Sanders has NFL-caliber tools. His ability to diagnose defenses pre-snap, manipulate safeties with his eyes, and deliver throws with pinpoint accuracy are all qualities that translate. There’s a reason why teams are flying out to Boulder to meet with him.

There’s a reason why analysts like Riddick are calling him a top-half-of-the-first-round talent. The challenge is convincing NFL decision-makers to look past the noise. “With Shedeur, he has some of his father in him. There’s no question. How could he not? He’s the man’s son. And so a lot of it comes from who he is and what his last name is.” That association cuts both ways. It grants him a platform but also invites skepticism that other quarterbacks don’t face.

At the heart of the debate is whether NFL teams can separate perception from reality. Deion Sanders has never been one to fit the mold, and his son carries that same energy. But NFL front offices don’t draft personalities—they draft quarterbacks who can win games. The tape shows that Shedeur Sanders is that kind of passer. He’s not a raw, toolsy project. He’s a polished, battle-tested leader who has already shown he can operate a pro-style offense at a high level.

The Giants, among others, have done their homework on Sanders, and the former Giants coach leading his offense has made it clear: he could be a “franchise QB”.

ESPN Analyst Shakes Things Up Again: Titans Go Ward, Giants Bet on Sanders

NFL free agency is officially in full swing, but that doesn’t mean the draft buzz is slowing down. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Field Yates dropped his latest top-10 mock draft, giving us a glimpse of how things could unfold now that teams are making major moves. At No. 1 overall, Yates has the Tennessee Titans taking Cam Ward, making him the 1 QB off the board. Things get interesting at No. 3, where he has Shedeur Sanders landing with the New York Giants.

Yates explains the logic behind the pick, saying, “The Giants will stay focused on landing a quarterback this week, but that won’t preclude them from examining the draft class at that position, too.” In other words, they might bring in a veteran quarterback during free agency, but that won’t stop them from betting on Sanders as their future franchise guy.

What makes Sanders stand out? “His ball placement and ability to throw with touch are outstanding traits,” Yates added. Business is booming in the NFL, with free agency starting this week. What are your thoughts?