Shedeur Sanders might face some unexpected competition in the 2025 NFL Draft. While many expected him to be a top pick, recent mock drafts have thrown a curveball his way.

It’s not just Georgia’s Carson Beck who’s nipping at his heels; Alabama’s Jalen Milroe is also making a strong case for the top spot. Football analyst James Fragoza’s latest mock draft, which combined real-life stats with the EA Sports College Football 25 game, painted a surprising picture.

Fragoza’s draft on July 27 had Milroe going first overall to the Carolina Panthers, while Shedeur Sanders slipped to the sixth pick, landing with the New York Giants. Milroe’s numbers were quite impressive in real life and the video game. He completed 65.8% of his passes last year with 23 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. But the video game stats were even crazier: 78% completion rate, 38 touchdowns, and just 7 picks. And let’s not forget his speed — he’s a dual-threat quarterback who can hurt you with his legs, too. Plus, EA Sports has given him a massive 91-speed!

Milroe’s stock has risen even more after his performance at the SEC Media Days. He sounded confident about “achieving a national championship” under the new coach Kalen DeBoer. Sports analyst Alex Scarborough called him “the face of college football this year.”

Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders is still a top QB prospect with outstanding arm talent, but this mock draft shows he might have to wait his turn. It’s a tough pill for Deion Sanders, who probably had other plans for his son’s NFL career. 

Shedeur Sanders faces a reality check in the unique mock draft

Deion Sanders is full of confidence when it comes to his son Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter. He’s already predicting they’ll be the top 5 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft! Deion even wants them to pull an “Eli Manning” and refuse to play for certain teams. “There’s certain cities that ain’t gonna happen… It’s gonna be an Eli,” he said, outlining his ambitious plans. The Buffs HC has set his sights on teams he played for in the ’90s, like the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, and even the Washington Commanders.

But the recent mock draft doesn’t precisely align with Deion’s plans. Shedeur was projected to go sixth overall to the New York Giants, which isn’t one of the teams Deion wants him to play for. To make matters even more interesting, the EA Sports CFB 25 video game has the Buffaloes struggling with a 5-7 record. And to add insult to injury, another quarterback, Brayden Schager from Hawaii, is starting to shine in the game’s Dynasty Mode as a Heisman winner.

While it’s all just guesswork based on simulations, it’s still a friendly reminder that anything can happen in college football. Shedeur & Co. must keep their heads in the game and be ready for anything!