Is Shedeur Sanders feeling the heat? The 2025 NFL Draft has Shedeur and Cam Ward at the center of it all, going from “generational talent” debates to vying for the coveted number one draft pick. Millions of dollars, lifelong legacies, and the weight of expectations—that’s what’s on the line for these two. Cam Ward’s stocks are rising fast. He’s inching closer to a $7.3 billion franchise and has a ton of support behind him. Meanwhile, Shedeur is facing some serious challenges.

Cam was already ahead in the Heisman race, so it wouldn’t be a shock if he comes out on top in the draft too. But it’s the constant comparisons that seem to be getting to Shedeur. It’s tough to stay cool when the whole world is watching your every move, especially when you’re constantly being compared with your peers. Can Shedeur handle the pressure, or will the weight of expectations prove too much?

Well, it’s not the first time Shedeur Sanders has faced the wrath of comparisons over his gameplay or alleged draft rank against Cam Ward. But now, with Cam getting a step closer to being a first-round pick for the $7.3 billion franchise New York Giants, things took an ugly turn for him. With each passing day, NFL draft reports are pushing him away from the No. 1 spot, and now there’s this talk about him having “less zip” on his passes than Cam Ward. It’s clearly getting under Shedeur’s skin, especially with fans saying stuff like, “Shedeur Sanders is currently under fire right now among fans for having ‘less zip’ on his b–l than Cam Ward.” Knowing Shedeur, we know he can’t let that slide easily.

So, while practicing with Cam Ward, Shedeur took a subtle jab at recent comparisons, saying, “We’re going to see if he puts all that zip on it today.” Ward quickly dispersed the moment, responding, “We got a love relationship.” But let’s be honest, this went beyond friendly conversation. As the NFL Draft looms, this comparison between Shedeur and Ward shows no signs of abating; indeed, every comment fuels the fire.

And just a few days ago, former Jets scout Daniel Kelly really went in on Shedeur on X, listing 42 reasons why he doesn’t think he belongs in the NFL. Kelly even argued that Sanders wouldn’t be a first-round pick. His biggest reason? 94 sacks over two seasons. Though Sanders falters under pressure, when given a clean slate, he becomes a dominant force, solidifying his place in first-round discussions.

But that “poor passer” narrative? It is pure fiction. Shedeur holds a 74% completion rate, while Ward sits at 67.2%. Even NFL Rookie Watch weighed in, posting on IG that “it appears Sanders’ b–s are more accurate than Ward’s.” The numbers don’t lie, and neither do the eyes watching every snap. So, who’s really got that QB1 edge? But things are changing, and it looks like neither of them might end up where everyone expects.

Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward’s draft might see a major shakeup

Well, the ongoing competition between Shedeur and Cam to become the top prospect seems to have no end. Honestly, having a little friendly competition among friends is a good thing. However, the NFL Draft is always full of surprises. Every year, a wildcard player unexpectedly drops from an early pick, while another player unexpectedly rises. But what if the true stars of this year’s draft are not the ones we’ve been discussing? Could the talent pool be deeper than we expected?

Peter Schrager set off a storm on January 30, 2024, when he said this on The Herd: “The big takeaway I’ve gotten, having not been in Mobile but talking to everybody, is… not a quarterback draft.” Despite all the buzz around Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, teams might overlook quarterbacks and focus on other positions.

Even with Ward and Sanders in the spotlight, things could shift. Schrager pointed out, “Quarterbacks get bumped up, and in this case, it would be Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Will they get bumped up enough to be one, two, despite the fact that guys like Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, and Tyler Warren are objectively viewed as much better prospects in this year’s draft class?” There’s a possibility that teams will pursue players with exceptional, generational talent rather than simply focusing on the hype surrounding quarterbacks.

Moreover, this uncertainty is already apparent in mock drafts. Analysts like Bucky Brooks have moved Ward and Sanders down their rankings, placing defensive standouts and versatile athletes above them. Even ESPN’s Matt Miller just dropped his latest mock draft after spending two weeks at the Senior Bowl, and it’s got some surprises. He’s got Carter going number one to the Titans, and Hunter at number two to the Browns. Ward’s slotted in at number three to the Giants. But where’s Shedeur? He’s down at number six, going to the Las Vegas Raiders, with Will Johnson and Mason Graham both picked ahead of him.

Fox Sports’ Rob Rang took it a step further by creating a wild “what-if?” mock draft that included underclassmen declaring. The outcome was astonishing—Arch Manning soared to the number one spot, while Ward plummeted to number 21 and ended up with Pittsburgh, and Sanders dropped to number 26, joining the Rams.

So, looks like while Ward and Sanders are battling for the No.1 crown, a draft day plot twist could leave them both watching someone else steal the show.