Just a month ago, Shedeur Sanders looked like a clear top-5 pick. That No. 1 overall pick even got in some conversations. The hype was real. With the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants sitting in the top 3, it felt like it was just a matter of time before one of them called his name on draft night. But as the countdown to the 2025 NFL Draft continues, something has changed. 

The buzz around Shedeur Sanders has cooled significantly. Suddenly, there’s talk of him sliding down the board. The sense is that his NFL Combine attitude, which came off as “cocky” and “arrogant,” is his roadblock. Now, as rumors swirl, the once-bright spotlight on the Buffs QB is dimming. And one voice in particular is keeping it real about the challenges he could face at the next level. 

Former Colorado legend Joel Klatt hopped on The Herd with Colin Cowherd to address Shedeur Sanders’ NFL career. He sees both promise and peril in the young QB’s league transition. “He had success behind what you could call poor offensive lines at the college level, so I think that that’s actually a huge feather in his cap when you talk about the evaluation to the next level,” the analyst said. But there’s a catch, and it concerns turnovers. 

“He will make throws that others are unwilling to make, but that does put the ball in precarious spots, and that’s the only thing that I would say is, it would be my only worry,” Klatt continued. “It’s not that I think it’s going to happen. He may have to deal with a few unsightly turnovers early in his career in order to learn some of those lessons.” The point is Shedeur has talent, but he needs to clean up his decision-making or risk learning it the hard way. 

Such situations are not uncommon for young QBs transitioning from college to the pro level. The speed and skill of NFL defenses often punish decision-making that might have worked in college. But Shedeur Sanders’ statistical performance at Colorado suggests that he’s calculated in his risk-taking. Even behind a weak O-line that allowed 42 sacks on him, he led the nation with a 74% completion rate, throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 TDs to just 10 interceptions. But the tide seems to be shifting. 

ESPN’s Adam Schefter added to the speculation that neither the Browns nor the Giants are expected to take Shedeur Sanders. Speaking on the NFL Draft Countdown, he said, “The Browns’ trade for Kenny Pickett, the Giants sign Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. And with the blue-chip talents that are looking like they’ll be available here—Abdul Carter from Penn State, Travis Hunter from Colorado—right now, my sense, not a report, but my sense is it would be a non-QB at 2, a non-QB at 3.” So where would he land?

Shedeur Sanders and the Giants breakup

From rocking Giants colored-cleats before his last college game, to his dad Deion straight-up saying “Let’s hope it’s New York,” Shedeur Sanders once looked like a strong Giants possibility. But things shifted, and New York didn’t wait for the draft to beef up their quarterback lineup. They signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency, adding them to a mix that already has Tommy DeVito. That makes it unlikely that they’ll take a QB at No. 3, which is a dramatic shift from his early projections. 

NFL Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah warns that the Colorado star could slip out of the Top-10 entirely. “There’s two options here—either he’s going to be second or third pick. He’s going to go in the top three of the draft. If he doesn’t go on the top three, there is a very real scenario where he gets outside the top-ten.” Right now, his destination remains one of the biggest mysteries. 

Once viewed as a franchise cornerstone, Shedeur Sanders is now battling doubt. If he does slide down the draft board, some teams could get a steal. But he’ll have to prove them right.