Mel Kiper Jr. Makes His Opinion On Shedeur Sanders Very Clear
Today at 07:14 PM
For 28 of the league's 32 teams, the NFL offseason is underway. The Chiefs, Bills, Commanders and Eagles are still competing for a chance to win the Super Bowl, but the rest of the league is looking toward the future.
Some teams are hiring head coaches and working on their staffs ahead of the 2025 season, while others are looking toward free agency and the NFL Draft.
Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is expected to be taken near the top of that draft, and one of the top draft analysts is giving his opinion on the potential No. 1 pick.
During an appearance on ESPN's mock draft SportsCenter special, Kiper predicted that the New York Giants would select Sanders with the No. 3 overall pick. The analyst compared Sanders to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
"I think you see a little bit of that Joe Burrow in Shedeur Sanders, at times. Not necessarily going to be the runner, but he had eight rushing touchdowns over the last two years of Colorado," Kiper said.
"I really like this kid. I think you can go to war with Shedeur Sanders, I think he's a leader and I think if you build around him, give him an offensive that's certainly better it was a Colorado, he can pay major dividends and be a franchise quarterback in the NFL."
Kiper also noted that Sanders was extremely accurate in both of his seasons at Colorado, and that being able to make the difficult throws will set him apart from some of his peers.
"Yes, he threw a few more interceptions [in 2024], but the ability to slip and slide in the pocket. He's not going to win any races, but in that pocket, his instincts, his awareness is outstanding," Kiper added.
"The accuracy in the face of a big time pass rush, game after game, what he had to endure. He could throw rolling left, throw rolling right. Like I say, the toughness that he had to show in that offense was amazing. He's got that magic about him. Some of those throws were magical."
Sanders will have a chance to prove Kiper and the rest of his supporters right next season when he makes his NFL debut. We'll see where Sanders and the rest of the rookie class ends up when the 2025 NFL Draft begins in Green Bay in late April.
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