Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders surprised many by choosing to forgo the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead, he chose to join his father, Coach Deion Sanders, for his senior year, aiming to propel the Buffaloes past their disappointing 4-8 record. 

Shedeur likely has his sights set on more than just stats. He craves wins, a shot at program history, and ultimately, the coveted title of No. 1 overall draft pick whenever he enters the NFL. This ambition was on display during a recent press conference where he discussed his goals for the upcoming season.

Shedeur Sanders explains his decision to skip 2024 draft

Shedeur Sanders defied expectations by skipping the 2024 Draft. This decision stands quite contrasting to the projected top pick, Caleb Williams, who’s expected to land with the Chicago Bears. While head coach Deion Sanders might have preferred a better situation for the Buffs and his son, Shedeur harbors loftier ambitions. “Because I’m trying to be the first quarterback off the board. That’s really what it is. And I respect Caleb, I respect how he plays. He’s a great player, he is different,” he said.

This respectful acknowledgment seems to mask a competitive fire. Shedeur elaborated, “There are different tiers of quarterbacks. These guys are special guys that are good and guys that are okay game managers.” While seen as a top quarterback prospect by many this year, Shedeur understands another season could solidify his elite status and propel him toward the coveted number-one pick in the following draft. 

Can the Buffs quarterback earn a top draft pick?

Many analysts project USC’s Caleb Williams as the likely top pick drafted by the Chicago Bears. Meanwhile, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels are also expected to be high picks, with some even seeing them battling for the coveted QB2 spot. However, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders throws a wrench into these projections. He believes his son, Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, would have been the second quarterback drafted in 2024 had he declared. This bold statement also finds support from some.

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However, Shedeur is unlikely to be drafted ahead of a Heisman Winner like Williams. But he did light up the scene in his freshman year at Colorado, initially placing him on the Heisman dark horse list. Unfortunately, the Buffaloes’ overall performance faltered, and Shedeur couldn’t maintain his early dominance.

Despite facing inconsistent offensive line play, Shedeur’s individual performance was impressive, breaking school records for passing yards and touchdowns. He completed almost 70% of his passes. Though a decent number, Shedeur seems to aim more to be at the number one spot and wanted to be a great quarterback when drafted. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below. 

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