6 players the Buccaneers should keep an eye on for 2025 NFL Draft
By Brad Smith
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
With his father Deion taking Colorado's head coaching job last offseason, Shedeur followed and made the jump from the FCS to the FBS, and impressed nonetheless. In 11 starts as the Buffs' starter under center, Sanders threw for 3,230 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and just three interceptions on 69.3% completion and a 151.3 passer rating, and was named as an honorable mention to the All-Pac-12 Conference Team.
In the history of Colorado football, Sanders owns the school's all-time passing yard and completion percentage records, while throwing for the second-most touchdowns in school history. Ahead of a second season at Boulder alongside a revamped offensive line and skill group, Sanders will likely shatter his own records in 2024.
"He was QB1 for me if he came out this year," a longtime NFL evaluator said of Sanders to The Washington Post. "You have to manage him a little differently, and Deion is going to be heavily involved … so you have to be prepared to deal with that. But I love watching that kid play. He's a born winner."
At 6'2" and 215 pounds, Sanders is the prototypical size of a two-way quarterback that can run and throw the football well. With one of the strongest arms in the class, Sanders is capable of dicing up defenses on seam and crossing patterns with high-velocity lasers while evading pressure and sacks in the pocket. Sanders' senior season will be one to watch closely, as a breakthrough performance can lock Sanders in as a top-five pick next April.
That said, a lack of maturity does cloud Sanders' outlook as the presumed leader of a football team in the NFL, both on and off the field. Sanders also took a conference-worst 49 sacks last season, and a lack of footwork under center does call for concern on the 2023 Pac-12 newcomer of the year. Regardless, Sanders will be one of the highly touted college prospects this season ahead of next year's NFL draft.