The NBA Draft is straightforward for the most part. It’s essentially a pecking order of the best prospects in descending order since all 5 positions on the court equate to pretty much equal value. Conversely, the NFL variant is a bit more nuanced. It’s not really an exact meritocracy, with positional value baked in, too. Quarterbacks, being the paramount position group, naturally get a bump up the hierarchy. Even if, say, an outside linebacker is perceived to be better pound-for-pound. Well, this nuance is something Shedeur Sanders was hoping to benefit from. However, one ESPN draftnik has delved into an alternative hypothetical. What if players were to be drafted based on their own merit rather than importance and team fit? Let’s just say it’s not a great look for Shedeur.

Apart from the obvious value vested in being a quarterback, there’s one other factor helping propel the young quarterback’s draft stock. The ‘25 QB class is reportedly weak and void of much quality. Merely two—Cam Ward and Shedeur himself—are consensus first-rounders. Compare this to last year, when six came off Roger Goodell’s board in the Top 12. Owing to this lack of supply, in tandem with him being a QB, Shedeur Sanders is being projected to land as high as #2 overall to the Cleveland Browns, which comes with the benefits of a more inflated rookie contract. However, Field Yates’ latest analysis seems to have thrown a wrench in the NFL-bound players’ works…

On March 28, the ESPN NFL insider revealed a list of his 50 best draft prospects. Some of the predictable blue chippers occupied the top spots. Two-way Travis Hunter came in ranked #1, defensive end Abdul Carter #2 and—rather interestingly—defensive tackle Mason Graham closed out the podium. Shedeur Sanders’ closest contemporary quarterback, Cam Ward, came in at #6 behind running back Ashton Jeanty and LSU offensive tackleman Will Campbell. This tells you how the signal-caller position group isn’t in great shape this year, given Cam is heavily favored to go No.1 overall in the actual draft. Having said that, where’s Sanders, you’re wondering? Well, Yates didn’t just hit him with bad news—he hit him with a supposed reality check, with a lowly No. 16 rank. While this isn’t an indictment, it does contextualize the reason his draft stock’s been so liquid over this process. 

Notably, Yates’ reasoning included both positive words of affirmation and negative words of warning. “Sanders is unequivocally the best pocket passer in this year’s draft class, as he led the FBS in completion percentage in 2024 at 74.0% and threw 37 touchdown passes, second most behind only Ward. His ball placement and ability to throw with touch are outstanding, and he has a ton of experience (25 starts at Colorado and 25 more at Jackson State). Sanders also brings a fearlessness and toughness to the position.” But then, why is Shedeur at 16th?

Well, as per Yates, “He will need to clean up his pocket navigation, though. While he played behind a shaky offensive line at Colorado, he led the FBS with 42 sacks taken. But he has the traits to be drafted extremely early.” A fair opinion held by many. The reasons why Shedeur isn’t an elite prospect are mostly based on athleticism. While Deion Sanders was a freak himself, that raw physical gift didn’t quite permeate to his son as per many. Shedeur isn’t particularly mobile and can’t move the chains with his legs at a high clip. He doesn’t have a cannon arm, either. More of a traditional throwback QB. With dynamic quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and lately Jayden Daniels being the favored archetype, it’s understandable why Yates isn’t a huge proponent of Shedeur. 

This comes after NFL Network’s Eric Edholm projected Shedeur Sanders to go 15th overall in his latest mock draft. Interestingly, he sees the Browns trade back into the 1st round and pull the trigger. Notably, this downturn comes two days after long-time NFL journalist Scott Salomon also wrote a detailed piece headlined, “Shedeur Sanders is Not Worth a First-Round Pick.” The content? Well, do you even have to guess? “Don’t look for [the QB] to be Sanders. If the Browns were smart, they would take Abdul Carter and pair him with Myles Garrett and have a ferocious defensive line….There is momentum, but it will die down after [Shedeur’s] Pro Day on April 4 when they see he is more pedestrian than superstar.” 

Even ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler had said earlier, “Here’s the tricky part with Sanders…I texted with a half-dozen or so high-level personnel people with teams. I asked them a simple question: ‘Do you have a first-round grade on Shedeur Sanders, meaning do you see him as a first-round talent?’ Four said no, more of a second-rounder. Two said yes, that he is a mid-to-late first-round pick for them.” However, if you ask father Deion Sanders, the criticism is only going to make his son stronger…

In a conversation on The Skip Bayless Show on March 26, “I want Shedeur to do what he’s consistently done – excel against all odds. I like the hating, I like the naysaying, I like the ignorance because it makes us feel better about what we do and it gives him another chip on his shoulder.”

Top Comment by MrNathan

Haters gon’ hate… Shedeur Sanders is a top talent QB… Period… He came from 2 football programs with very little to...more

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Having said that, the lowly ranking from Field Yates does come in the midst of ESPN reportedly ruffling some feathers by reportedly underestimating a fellow QB who’s got a historic football lineage attached to his last name. The close proximity of these doesn’t make for a great look.

Shedeur Sanders’ revelation follows on from controversy centered around Arch Manning

Shedeur Sanders isn’t the only quarterback this week who may feel hard done by where an ESPN analyst has him ranked relative to others. Texas’ Arch Manning also found himself on the receiving end of a slight. ESPN NFL Draft Analyst & Insider Matt Miller did an early ranking of the 2026 QB draft class over on NFL Live. He labeled Manning a “tier-two prospect.” who’s “got the name, not the game yet,” Naturally, this didn’t go down well among those of a Longhorns’ persuasion.

Texas Insider’s Anwar Richardson took to X and ranted about what he deemed as blatant disrespect and oversight on a former 5-star prospect. Richardson said, “ESPN are missing the forest for the trees” and that they’re “sleeping on a generational talent.” Given how Arch Manning has begun his first spring camp as Texas’ QB1, calling him generational doesn’t seem hyperbolic. Not to mention the very obvious name on the back of his jersey.

As for Shedeur Sanders, there’s still space for this archetype of quarterback in the league. This is evidenced by a Super Bowl contender’s sensational interest in him, in case he does slide to the mid or late first round. Granted, there are monetary advantages to being drafted high. But the lower you go, the better the chance of landing at a solid franchise. One that can be conducive to his growth and development.