Shedeur Sanders: NFL Practice Squad Grade

Evaluating quarterback (QB) Shedeur Sanders on Jackson State (transfer to Colorado) was not easy to do.

Why?

It’s because I deeply respect and admire his dad and coach, Deion Sanders.

I even have home and away Falcons’ Sanders jerseys I like to wear around town in Key West.

Deion was a game changer when he played in the NFL, and I like what he’s done as a coach, but as evaluator I needed to separate myself from all of that.

One of the keys to evaluating is removing any bias whatsoever. I kept having to ask myself, “What if this wasn’t Deion’s son, what grade would I give him?”

To be honest – – he looked average. There was nothing that showed up that was dominant or elite in these three games.

Jackson State did their best to game plan to cover up his limitations, but they still consistently showed up.

Despite the serious star power generational vibe, I can’t see Sanders doing anymore than making an NFL practice squad as a rookie.

1. Sanders folded like a tent under pressure

This was the big problem against Southern, North Carolina Central and Texas Southern.

I can’t image the kind of problem it would be against the Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants?

That’s the key to evaluating and projecting talent from college, asking yourself, “Has what I am watching succeeded in the NFL?

Not always, but at least 90% of the time, Sanders froze or appeared to panic as pass rushers were closing in. Too often, he was bracing himself for impact, throwing it away or misfiring.

Pressure played a number on him.

He heard footsteps in the pocket and lost downfield focus.

He showed timidity.

I believe this is the reason why Southern and Texas Southern got extra rough with him with some extracurricular (personal foul) physicality.

It’s like they were trying to get to him, trying to intimidate him.

It appeared intentional and strategic.

2. Lacks big league arm

Sanders is a touch passer (and he’s good at it).

That’s his game.

He’s an accurate instinctual touch passer who spends most of the games working short range.

Jackson State’s offensive game planning was extremely conservative by design to play within Sanders limitations.

He looked like a game manager on film who didn’t aggressively attack secondaries further downfield.

Sanders’ passes lacked zip, especially outside the the numbers. It looked like receivers were waiting on some of his passes.

3. First read

Sanders often threw to his first read in Jackson State’s offense.

He locked in and threw.

Sanders did not look like he was going through progressions.

4. Not a great runner

I vividly remember Deion Sanders running with the football, both as a return specialist and as a cornerback.

He had serious juice.

While Shedeur got some of his dad’s Hall of Fame level athleticism, he didn’t get his afterburners.

He was able to bail out of the pocket sometimes and take what was there to take.

Sanders runs out of necessity.

To further illustrate: 2022 (85 carries, 173 yards, 2.0 avg).

#2 Shedeur Sanders 6-foot-2, 215 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Spring 2023 Grade: Sixth-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 7.5% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of May 14, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed (Jackson State): Southern, North Carolina Central, and Texas Southern

2022 stats: 341/483 (70.6%), 3732 yards, 40 TD, 6 INT, 23 sacks, long-86

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Raw athletic one-read game manager who protects the ball well (5 defended passes in these three games). Not dual-role by nature. Good ball handling. Inconsistent release times. Tendency to pat the ball pre-delivery. Works the short game well. Good placement overall at all three route levels (short, medium and deep). Has the instincts to know where throw, but can become gun shy. Good rolling to his right and throwing. Average runner when taking off.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season:

1. How does his game translate to Colorado?

2. Conservative or aggressive game planning?

3. Still hearing footsteps or maintaining downfield focus despite pass rush?

4. How does he look throwing intermediate and deep?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.