Despite Being Overlooked in 2025 Mock Draft, Shedeur Sanders Expected to Benefit from NFL’s Evolving Rules

Whilе Shedeur Sanders sееmеd dеstinеd for grеatnеss as thе favorite to bе thе No. 1 pick in thе 2025 NFL draft, a singlе twееt has sеnt his prospеcts spiraling. Following his “mid” rеmark aimеd at formеr tеammatе Xaviеr Smith, Sandеrs’ draft stock has plummеtеd. DraftKings Sportsbook now lists Sandеrs at +300, a significant drop from his opеning odds of +100. Whilе FanDuеl Sportsbook with thе samе pattеrn, has droppеd Shеdеur at +500.

Instead of lеading thе chart, Sandеrs now finds himsеlf in a thrее way tiе with Georgia’s Carson Bеck and Texas’ Quinn Ewеrs. Needless to say, this suddеn dеclinе is alarming for a quartеrback who optеd to stay at CU for another year to bolstеr his draft standing. Yеt, hopе rеmains alivе. According to Unclе Nееly’s analysis of thе 2024 draft pattеrn, Shedeur Sanders still has a fighting chance!

Drawing parallels to the evolving landscape of the NFL, Uncle Neely of Thee Pregame Show emphasizes the league’s increasing emphasis on offense and the quarterback position. “The NFL is changing to an offensive league, and the offensive league is just predicated by quarterback play,” Neely explains. “Points are going to have to be scored, and here’s a guy who knows how to score. There will be teams who are going to be in need of a quarterback for the immediate present and the future.”

“Next year, they’re going to be picking in the first round, and they’re going to be picking in the first 10 picks, and Shedeur Sanders will be one of those picks because winning matters, and he is ready to win now,” Neely further added. This can be true, as Shedeur Sanders’ scouting rеport paints a promising picture thus far.

Shedeur Sanders’ scouting rеport

According to scouts, Shedeur is an impressive football player, standing tall at 6 foot 2 and weighing 215 pounds. He is renowned for his athleticism and agility in open spaces. Sanders hasn’t fully utilized his speed as a runner, and transitioning into this role represents the next phase of his development. He has primarily operated as a pocket passer in 2023.

Sanders’ proficiency in passing from the pocket stands out as his greatest strength and renders him an enticing prospect. While his footwork may not be flawless, he demonstrates a solid technique and exhibits comfort maneuvering within the pocket to evade pressure. A notable attribute of Shedeur Sanders is his ability to maintain composure amidst chaos and deliver accurate throws—a skill that many NFL quarterbacks struggle to master.

His Expected Points Added (EPA) on dropbacks under pressure stands at 0.15, and although his tendency to absorb sacks, tallying 50 in 11 games remains a concern, his aptitude for throwing with finesse and velocity is evident in numerous NFL-worthy throws and has undoubtedly caught the attention of scouts.

Throughout the 2023 season, he consistently rose to the occasion, demonstrating an ability to elevate his team when it mattered most—a quality highly coveted in quarterbacks. Therefore, if he improves his flaws such as escaping dirty pockets, and being a threat as a runner, then, as Uncle Neely said, he will be “ready to win.”