Rajvir Bal Sees Shedeur Sanders as an NFL Backup QB

Colorado star quarterback (QB) Shedeur Sanders has unquestionably become the most talked-about prospect of this draft. Major outlets such as NFL.com, The Athletic, and USA Today rank him as a top-three mocked selection (nflmockdraftdatabase.com).

After watching seven games total of Sanders in 2024, I’m convinced he’s not a starting quarterback at the NFL level.

Let’s get into why:

Background

Sanders committed to FCS Jackson State in November of 2020 (247Sports), joining his Pro Football Hall of Fame father Deion Sanders (the head coach at that school then). When Deion left Jackson State to take the head coach position at Colorado (FBS), his son Shedeur followed him and committed to play for the Buffaloes.

Sanders Stats:

2023:

• 298 completions
• 430 attempts (69.3%)
• 3,230 yards
• 27 touchdowns
• 3 interceptions

2024: 

• 353 completions
• 477 attempts (74.0%)
• 4,134 yards 
• 37 touchdowns
• 10 interceptions

#2 Shedeur Sanders 6-foot 1 1/2, 212 pounds
Rajvir Bal’s 2025 NFL Draft Grade: Fourth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)
Projected by 96.9% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 6, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Shedeur Sanders Lacking Essential Skills on Early 2024 Film (5 games evaluated)

Additional 2024 game film reviewed: Kansas and Texas Tech (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Character Concerns

In my opinion, Sanders does not display the leadership qualities expected from an NFL franchise.

One report was particularly concerning from NBC Sports Matthew Berry:

“I got the exact opposite read on Shedeur Sanders. I want to be careful here. But I spoke with two people on two different teams that met with Sanders. And completely independently of each other, they had the exact same things to say. They both said it was a bad meeting and that he came off as unprofessional and disinterested. Both also said that after the meeting they had a lesser opinion of him than prior.”

Takes Too Many Sacks

Over the past two years, Sanders was the most sacked quarterback in the FBS (52 in 2023 and 42 in 2024).

It’s as clear as day that he is far too indecisive about where to go with the ball. Per Athlon Sports, his reported time to throw this past season was 3.00 seconds (Stat: Pro Football Focus). Being this hesitant before throwing and holding the ball that long causes him to take sacks.

This isn’t “just an offensive line problem,” it’s a recurring issue in his game.

No Elite Traits

When a QB is considered a consensus first-round pick, they typically possess at least one standout trait. After seven games of studying Sanders, I see nothing imposing about his game. He has “strengths,” but nothing that screams ‘franchise QB.’

Sanders plays the position but doesn’t elevate his team or bring anything extra to the table.

Simply put, he’s not a difference-maker.

Hand-crafted offense

The Buffaloes’ offense was scripted, check-down heavy, and minimized reads.

To perform, Sanders needs large, established throwing windows with ample room for him to miss. He also needs his throws to be pre-determined, as he’s very hesitant and unsure when going off-script.

Colorado’s offense wasn’t just built to win as the primary focus—it was structured to boost Sanders’ stats and enhance his draft stock.

What are the Pros?

Sanders’ arm strength is adequate, but his accuracy is unquestionably the best part of his game. His footwork is clean, and he had no problem delivering accurate passes to his receivers at Colorado. Sanders wasn’t bad under pressure (likely because he was always throwing with defenders in his face). His innate natural ability to play the position isn’t bad, and though he has a faulty internal clock, he has solid instincts elsewhere.

Ten Adjectives

Hesitant. Overhyped. Accurate. Uninspiring. Erratic. Whiny. Timid. Overmatched. System-dependent. Unconvincing.

NFL Crystal Ball

1. New York Giants
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Las Vegas Raiders

Role On Team: Mid–High-end QB2

Final Words

Take away the hand-crafted offense, the controlled environment, and the name recognition ⎯what’s left is a mid-tier college QB, not a first-round NFL talent.

Rajvir Bal is a high school student from the Virginia area. He grew up a rabid Washington Redskins fan, attending more than 30 games, and has enjoyed the team’s high points and low points throughout his life. He plays varsity football and basketball. Rajvir has taken an interest in the NFL Draft since middle school when his team picked Montez Sweat and Dwayne Haskins in the first round. His favorite NFL player ever flips between Rob Gronkowski and Brett Favre, and his favorite athlete is LeBron James. He has been writing his own scouting reports since 2020, and is excited for the opportunities FirstRoundMock provides.