Shedeur Sanders

Prospect Profile: Shedeur Sanders

April 20th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Ely Allen

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of Hall of Fame NFL cornerback and current Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, has been one of the 2025 NFL Draft class’s most polarizing prospects. At times trending to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Sanders’ draft stock has slowly fallen in the last few months, but he still projects as a first-round quarterback and a potential starter in the NFL.

Sanders grew up just outside of Dallas, where his father spent five years of his career from 1995-99. When he got to high school, attending Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, Texas, he was coached by his father, who served as the high school’s offensive coordinator at the time. Between the different recruit ranking services, Sanders was either a three- or four-star recruit, with 247Sports ranking him as the 37th-best passer in the class.

Likely based on his pedigree, plenty of schools were willing to take a chance on Sanders as a prospect, granting him offers from several Division I programs. The schools that recruited him the most were Alabama, Baylor, Louisville, LSU, South Carolina, FAU, UCF, and Utah State. He committed to the Owls in Boca Raton in the July before his senior season, but when his father was hired as the new head coach at Jackson State two months later, the Tigers became the favorite to land him. He eventually decommitted from FAU, flipping and signing with Jackson State, who would also flip five-star, No. 1 overall recruit Travis Hunter from Florida State on Early National Signing Day.

After initially being ineligible to perform in football activities during the spring, Sanders was named the starting quarterback for Jackson State as a true freshman. Starting all 13 games, Sanders completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,231 yards, 30 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions, winning 11 games. He won the Jerry Rice Award (given to the most outstanding freshman in the FCS) becoming the first player from a historically black college or university (HBCU) to win the award. As a sophomore, Sanders’ Tigers went 12-1 while he completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 3,732 yards, 40 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. He sophomore campaign was rewarded with the Deacon Jones Trophy (given to the nation’s top HBCU player).

In early-December, near the end of the Tigers’ season, Deion was named the new head coach at Colorado. Two weeks later, both Shedeur and Hunter entered the transfer portal and, eventually, followed their head coach to Boulder. The newcomers in Colorado started off hot with three straight wins over a ranked TCU, Nebraska, and Colorado State, but the Buffaloes would go 1-8 in Pac-12 play to finish the season 4-8 (4-7 with Sanders as the starter). Sanders completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only three interceptions as he and Hunter shined as bright spots on a struggling team that desperately needed improvements on the offensive line and defense.

Coming back for his final year of eligibility, Sanders, Hunter, and company went 9-3 in the regular season, ranking 23rd in the College Football Playoff rankings, missing the playoffs. They would go on to lose to BYU in the Alama Bowl to end 9-4. Overall on the season, Sanders set career highs in completion percentage (74.0) and passing yards (4,134) while throwing 37 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He earned honors as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in the school’s first season in the new conference, and the university would eventually announce that it was retiring both Sanders’ No. 2 jersey and Hunter’s No. 12 jersey.

At times during the 2024 season, Sanders was thought to be a potential No. 1 overall pick in the draft, often with Hunter being his top competition for the top honor in the class. Over time, Miami’s Cam Ward eventually took over the odds as the favorite to land in Nashville as the top overall draft pick, making Sanders a likely second overall pick. As the pre-draft process continued, Sanders continued to slip with Hunter and Penn State’s Abdul Carter becoming favorites to land at Nos. 2 and 3. While it’s always a possibility that a team could trade up to No. 4 overall to secure Sanders, the latest projections see him potentially falling back to No. 9 overall with the Saints or even No. 21 overall with the Steelers. There are some that view him almost as highly as Ward and some who don’t even give him a first-round grade.

The majority of concerns that have caused Sanders to slide have to do with his tape. Sanders ranks as QB2 (sometimes QB3 behind Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart) for a reason. His senior year completion percentage led the NCAA, displaying elite accuracy, and he shows impressive abilities stay cool in clutch situations and avoid turnovers despite excessive pressure from a leaky offensive line. He’s smart, savvy, and tough and plays in a really clean rhythm with Colorado’s offensive system, which he knows well.

Some negatives from his game are actually related to some his strengths. His high completion percentage has been linked to an overreliance on quick throws, screens, and checkdowns as only 23.7 percent of his completions at Colorado were on throws over 10 yards. Much of this has to do with a lack of elite arm strength, forcing him to rely on strong timing to float and arc throws in to his receivers with limited zip. When that elite timing falls apart on him, though, he can roll the snowball down the hill, backpedaling into pressure and holding on to the ball too long while trying to make something out of nothing. When plays fall apart, he has a tendency to get ultra-conservative, which avoids turnovers but doesn’t turn negative plays into positive plays, something Ward excels at. A lot of this stems, as well, from a general lack of mobility, a trait he failed to inherit from his father.

Further concerns were raised about off-the-field aspects. Though Sanders has kept his nose clean off the field, some organizations came away from interviews with Sanders with concerns about his character, whether warranted or not we can’t necessarily say. There were also concerns about his leadership, mentality, and coachability on a team without his father as a coach, considering Deion has coached his son since their time in high school together.

Regardless of these concerns, Sanders has shown that he can overcome his shortcomings to find some success at the collegiate level. It remains to be seen whether he can find that same success without a Heisman winner weapon to throw to or his father as a mentor and coach to support him, but Sanders has done enough at this point to warrant a first- or second-round chance. While Sanders’ elite timing and ability to avoid turnovers makes him one of the most pro-ready passers in the class, he may project best on a team with whom he can sit, learn, and develop, a team with a veteran in place that Sanders can either beat out or learn from.

Later this week, we’ll find out which locker room he’ll be joining. And, in May, when the rookies report to camp, we’ll begin to see just how well he fares out from under the shadows of his father and Hunter.

Steelers Have 1st-Round Grade On Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart

April 20th, 2025 at 10:09pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Steelers have a first-round grade on Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, though that does not mean they’ll prioritize the position over other needs in next week’s draft.

Instead, Dulac writes, Pittsburgh will likely target a defensive lineman or even a running back with their first-round pick. Both positions have projected top-10 picks (Michigan’s Mason Graham, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty) who are not expected to fall to the Steelers with multiple second-tier talents that should be available at No. 21.

The team’s defensive line targets include Georgia’s Walter Nolen, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon, and Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, per Dulac. At running back, Pittsburgh could target North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton or Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson, though they may wait until Day 2 to pick from a deep class.

Pittsburgh used 17 of their top-30 pre-draft visits on defensive linemen and running backs, another indication that their first-round pick will target one of the two positions.

The Steelers’ top brass also did their homework on this year’s quarterback class. They have a first-round grade on Dart and “really like” Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, per Dulac, making both potential options with the 21st round pick if the talent at DL and RB thins out. The team also scouted a number of Day 2 quarterbacks via pro days and top-30 visits.

Ultimately, though, it’s hard to believe that the Steelers would pass up the opportunity to draft a potential franchise quarterback after cycling through a half-dozen starters since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. They may still sign Aaron Rodgers to start this year, but they have no long-term options on the roster and a clear desire to add one. It would be strange to have first-round grades on Dart and potentially Sanders but prioritize other positions when quarterback is such a dire need in 2025 and beyond.

Draft Rumors: Hunter, Sanders, Banks

April 20th, 2025 at 8:36pm CST by Ely Allen

With the 2025 NFL Draft just four days out, the Browns are increasingly expected to select Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the second overall pick in the first round. Several sources have told FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano that Cleveland will take the multi-positional talent at No. 2 overall, clearing the path for Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter to land with the Giants.

The Hunter-to-Cleveland steam has been building over the last few weeks, especially following comments from general manager Andrew Berry indicating the team’s willingness to play Hunter on both sides of the ball. The reigning Heisman has repeatedly expressed his desire to continue his two-way exploits in the NFL, even saying he would consider sitting out if he’s only permitted to play one position.

It seems, though, that Hunter can avoid that potential outcome in Cleveland, and the closer we get to Thursday, the more likely that outcome is to occur.

Here are a few other draft rumors from around the NFL:

Hunter’s teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, has been one of the draft’s most polarizing prospects in the last few months. According to ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler, some scouts believe Sanders’ head coach at Colorado and father, NFL Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, is contributing to the wide range of evaluations. Typically, when scouts or position coaches visit a university to either watch tape or conduct a workout with a prospect, they will visit with a staff member, usually a head strength coach or NFL liaison to elicit some frank and honest information about the prospect. Some believe that Deion being the father of Shedeur and the superior of these employees has created a conflict wherein NFL personnel have had difficulty getting an understanding of who Shedeur is because of Deion’s influence.
After missing half of his junior year after undergoing hip surgery, Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison did not participate in drills and workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine or the Fighting Irish’s pro day. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, though, Morrison will conduct “a positional workout for teams on Monday” at his former high school in Arizona. Morrison currently grades as a potential Day 2 pick, and his father, former Washington safety Darryl Morrison, is currently the team chaplain for the Cardinals.
Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. has been a popular prospect leading up to the first-round of the draft. We noted a visit for Banks two weeks ago with the Falcons, but Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 updated his visit list to include the Panthers, Patriots, Cardinals, Cowboys, Raiders, and 49ers. He adds that the Texans spoke with Banks at his pro day in Austin, as well.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.

Latest On Steelers, Aaron Rodgers; Mike Tomlin High On Shedeur Sanders?

April 18th, 2025 at 12:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

APRIL 18: Members of the Steelers’ organization are anxious to move forward, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones writes. He adds, however, that Pittsburgh remains open to working out a deal – something which may very well take place after the draft. Jones predicts the Steelers’ “cutoff point” on the Rodgers front will come at some time this offseason, but it will likely not be after a rookie is selected (presuming the team takes that route next week).

APRIL 17: Aaron Rodgers broke his silence Thursday, but while he spoke of a disappointing exit meeting with the Jets’ new brass and of his batch of suitors, the high-profile (and high-maintenance) quarterback did not give a timeline for when, or if, he would sign. This leaves the Steelers — the lone team still waiting out this situation — a major question to answer soon. Will they opt to join the Giants in moving on?

That is not out of the question. This might be a situation the team chooses to steer clear of due to the “headache” that has been known to come with employing Rodgers, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline writes. The Steelers still seem quite interested in Rodgers, to the point their power brokers expressed optimism about an agreement coming to fruition recently. But Pittsburgh’s offer has been on the table for over a month now. With the draft a week away, the team at least needs to have a contingency plan.

Going from Russell Wilson to Mason Rudolph would not qualify as an upgrade for the Steelers, despite the party line of the team being confident in the former Ben Roethlisberger backup and Kenny Pickett replacement. Retirement remains in play for Rodgers, who had alerted the Vikings of his interest in landing there this offseason. The Giants saw the writing on the wall and signed Wilson.

While Rodgers has thrown passes to D.K. Metcalf this offseason, the Steelers may need to come out of this draft with a starter-caliber option. Otherwise, the Rudolph insurance option may become necessary. Joe Flacco rejoining the Browns, and the Falcons are still wanting a suitor to pay a sizable portion of Kirk Cousins‘ 2025 salary in the event of a post-draft trade. That is believed to be an issue for the Steelers.

Rodgers did not give the Steelers an ultimatum regarding their draft strategy, as he would qualify as likely a 2025-only solution if he were to sign. This would not stand to affect the Steelers in the draft, though had Rodgers committed already, the team could certainly have the freedom to bolster its roster around the aging QB in the first round. Instead, the prospect the team uses a first-round pick on a quarterback has been bandied about for weeks. Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft sends Shedeur Sanders to Pittsburgh at No. 21, and Pauline points to that scenario being one the team’s highest-profile staffer may well endorse.

Mike Tomlin is a Sanders supporter, per Pauline, who adds the 19th-year HC would be “in favor” of drafting the Colorado prospect. Sanders detractors have pointed to a lack of high-level traits worthy of a first-round pick, with the QB not resembling his Hall of Fame father-turned-coach in terms of athleticism. Sanders has received praise for his accuracy and toughness, but concerns about his upside have led to doubts about the former Division I-FCS recruit finding a top-10 landing spot.

Unless the Browns and Giants are conducting elaborate smokescreen operations, Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter (in some order) will go off the board after Cam Ward. The Raiders, Jets and Saints could be in play for Sanders, but rumors are pointing those franchises elsewhere. This could leave a door open for the Steelers, though their situation — one Rodgers’ indecision has illuminated — leaves them vulnerable to a team trading in front of them at No. 21 and snagging Sanders. Tomlin-Jalen Milroe connections had formed earlier this offseason, but Pauline adds the accomplished HC sees potential in Sanders.

It does not sound like a Sanders pick will be a must for Tomlin and Pittsburgh, but if he is still on the board at No. 21, this connection will be quite relevant. Pittsburgh is not known for moving up in Round 1, though the franchise has done so twice in the past six drafts (for Devin Bush and Broderick Jones). That would be a scenario to monitor if Sanders falls past the Saints at No. 9.

The Steelers would have options in Milroe, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough and Quinn Ewers. Though, Derek Carr‘s updated situation creates uncertainty regarding the Saints’ direction. New Orleans wants to leave this draft with a quarterback. The Steelers probably need to as well, in the event their Rodgers’ pursuit goes bust.

Joe Flacco Signing Won’t Affect Browns’ Draft Plans; Ravens Pursued Reunion With QB

April 17th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Browns general manager Andrew Berry said that the team’s signing of Joe Flacco won’t impact their plans for the quarterback position in next week’s draft, per The Athletic’s Zac Jackson.

Cleveland has done their homework on several top QB prospects, including Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, and Louisville’s Tyler Shough.

When asked specifically about Sanders, Berry said (via Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) that “all options are on the table.” He went on to say that the team is focused on finding a “long-term” quarterback and isn’t necessarily looking for a 2025 starter in the draft, according to Jackson.

At the moment, though, the Browns seem more likely to take Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 2 pick. Their second-rounder (No. 34 overall) could then be used to acquire a quarterback, potentially via a trade up into the end of the first round.

Using the second overall pick on a quarterback would put pressure on that player to start right away in Cleveland. A late first- or early second-rounder could still compete for a starting job as a rookie, but he could also sit behind Flacco and Kenny Pickett to aid his development. Neither veteran, however, projects as a clear starter for the 2025 season.

“I don’t think there’s any expectation of exactly who’s going to be the starting quarterback,” said Flacco (via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). The former Raven hasn’t earned a starting job out of training camp since his 2019 stint with the Broncos. He was, however, the go-to QB2 for the Jets, Browns, and Colts over the last three seasons with 15 total starts. Flacco did receive interest from Baltimore about returning as a backup to Lamar Jackson, per Mike Preston of The Baltimore Sun, but opted to sign in Cleveland due to the potential of a starting opportunity. The Ravens ended up with Cooper Rush as Jackson’s backup.

Pickett has openly expressed his desire to start for the Browns in 2025, though his previous starting experience in Pittsburgh left much to be desired.

“That’s the plan, man. I’m not going there to hang out,” said Pickett (via TribLive’s Jerry DiPaola). “I want to go play. I’m excited, been working hard for it, taking it a day at a time.”

First-Round Grades Elusive On Shedeur Sanders; QB Unlikely To Go In Top 10?

April 15th, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants are still doing due diligence on Shedeur Sanders, being set to conduct a private workout with the Colorado star in Boulder on Thursday. But it is undeniable that Sanders’ stock has slipped during the pre-draft process.

No longer being mocked consistently in the top three, despite the Browns and Giants‘ QB needs, Sanders now may need to be patient. The Browns and Giants are not expected to draft him, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer, who notes it could be a surprise if the Raiders, Jets and Saints (Nos. 6, 7 and 9, respectively) prevented him from falling out of the top 10.

This runs counter to a late-March report indicating Sanders was unlikely to fall out of the top 10, but the consensus appears to be changing. We heard recently a New Orleans landing may not be too likely, though that report emerged before Derek Carr‘s prospective surgery became public. Sanders and Travis Hunter dined with Browns brass before Colorado’s pro day, but Cleveland has been viewed as more likely to draft the two-way dynamo at No. 2. This would leave Abdul Carter for the Giants, even as the team rosters Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux already.

Coaches and scouts are not seeing enough to justify an early-first-round pick on tape, Breer adds, with many not grading him as a first-round talent. Although Sanders’ accuracy has drawn praise, his penchant for taking sacks offers a negation. The two-year Buffaloes starter also has not displayed high-end arm strength on tape, and despite his father being one of the greatest players in NFL history, Shedeur is not viewed as particularly athletic. That has created concerns about a QB-needy team making him its new franchise centerpiece via a top-10 investment.

Potential concerns about Deion Sanders’ involvement in his son’s career are natural for teams, but Breer and Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline have attempted to explain NFL staffers’ issues with the quarterback from a strictly on-field standpoint. Despite Shedeur’s 37:10 TD-INT ratio last season, he finished with negative rushing yards — due both to taking sacks and not contributing heavily as a rusher. Sanders’ fundamentals are drawing scrutiny, per Pauline, though he adds the QB’s toughness has garnered praise.

We have heard some teams have Jaxson Dart graded higher than Sanders on this year’s board, and Breer adds it might take owner involvement to ensure Sanders becomes a first-round pick. The 2022 draft brought what was viewed at the time as a significant slide, with Malik Willis dropping from likely first-round pick to 86th overall. It would still be shocking if Sanders experienced a comparable tumble as part of the latest maligned QB class, but a top-10 investment now may be unlikely. That will create major questions as to where Sanders will wind up.

Holding the No. 21 overall pick, the Steelers have hosted Sanders on a “30” visit. Of course, a host of non-QB-needy teams picking between the Saints and Raiders opens the door to a potential trade-up move. The Browns and Giants could have a window to move back in, though if the teams do not hold Sanders in much higher regard compared to this draft’s other second-tier QBs (Dart, Quinn Ewers, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe), waiting on them may be the play rather than handing over notable draft capital in a Sanders-based trade. Plenty of Giants-Sanders connections emerged during the pre-draft process, but a year after Big Blue was tied closely to J.J. McCarthy only to pass on him, some are doubting the Giants like Sanders all that much.

Unless Cleveland and New York are conducting elaborate smokescreens, Sanders likely will be in for a wait next week. This would open the door to teams like the Raiders and Jets adding Sanders as a high-end developmental option behind established starters. Beyond that, this draft will become quite interesting at QB after the Titans take Cam Ward — as they are widely expected to — to open the event.

Giants Schedule Shedeur Sanders Workout

April 14th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

The Giants’ third-overall pick continues to represent one of the most fascinating story lines in this year’s draft. While recent reports have suggested that the organization may skip the QB position and opt for Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter, that won’t stop the organization from taking a longer look at one of the draft’s top signal callers.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Giants plan to work out Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders privately on Thursday. The workout will take place in Boulder, Colorado.

This isn’t the first time the Giants have signaled some interest in Sanders. Coach Brian Daboll and a large contingent of other Giants decision makers attended the QB’s pro day earlier this month. While that obviously coincided with Hunter’s pro day, the event was truly an extended showcase for the signal caller. Further, as Pelissero notes, the Giants scouted Sanders “extensively” in games and practices over the past year.

There was even a report last week that the Giants could get creative and pursue both Colorado stars. However, subsequent rumblings indicated that the Giants weren’t necessarily as high on Sanders, and there was a bit of skepticism surrounding the team’s QB pursuit following the addition of Russell Wilson.

Cam Ward is all but guaranteed to go first-overall to the Titans, and despite the Browns’ (No. 2) and Giants’ (No. 3) potential need for a quarterback, there’s been talk of Sanders potentially falling down the draft board. While this year’s draft lacks top-end talent, there isn’t a long list of teams that are desperate for first-round QB prospects. That’s opened the door to a potential draft-day disappointment for Sanders.

Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post has expressed some doubt surrounding Sanders’ declining draft stock, noting that it’s “premature.” Dunleavy also says the Colorado product has “always” been in the conversation for the No. 3 pick, and while he may not necessarily be the favorite, the team hasn’t made any definitive decisions.

Of course, the Giants’ workout with Sanders later this week could simply be due diligence, as the team doesn’t have anything to lose by getting one last look at the quarterback. Dianna Russini of The Athletic seems to echo this sentiment, noting that the Giants plan to take a long look at all of the draft’s QB prospects. On the flip side, the Giants surely wouldn’t be putting in this type of effort if they weren’t at least considering Sanders with the third-overall pick.

Browns, Giants Have Inquired About Trading For No. 1 Pick; Titans Never Considered Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers?

April 13th, 2025 at 11:15am CST by Rory Parks

APRIL 13: Zac Jackson of The Athletic (subscription required) says the Titans appear sold on Ward. League sources have praised Ward’s maturity and the steady improvements he made over the course of his collegiate career, which leads clubs to believe he can thrive at the professional level.

Russini, on a recent episode of her Scoop City podcast, says it would take an historic offer to convince Tennessee to trade out of the No. 1 overall spot and forego its shot at Ward (video link). Russini adds that the reports of the Titans’ faith in Ward are real and are not part of the club’s effort to drive up the price for the top pick in the draft.

APRIL 6: The Browns and Giants, both still in need of a long-term quarterback despite offseason bridge additions, have inquired about trading up with the Titans to obtain the No. 1 overall pick in this month’s draft, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic (subscription required). We had previously heard Tennessee was fielding calls on that front, and it only makes sense that Cleveland (which presently holds the No. 2 overall pick) and New York (No. 3) would at least see what it would take to make a swap and put themselves in position to land Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the top QB in the 2025 class.

Less than two months ago, many around the league believed the rebuilding Titans would look to trade down, and the Giants were arguably the team most connected to a possible move up the board. The Browns, meanwhile, have been more closely linked to a Kirk Cousins pursuit than a trade for the No. 1 selection, with GM Andrew Berry recently confirming he is unlikely to swing a deal with Tennessee.

Interestingly, Howe says the Titans have not even determined what sort of compensation they would require to move down the board, which further strengthens the prevailing notion that they will select Ward with the top pick. And, contrary to pre-free agency rumors on the matter, Howe says Tennessee never got involved in the Sam Darnold sweepstakes, and he confirms the same is true of Aaron Rodgers. Of course, that represents yet another sign that Ward is Nashville-bound.

Recent reporting has pegged Cleveland as the likely destination for two-way phenom Travis Hunter, and the Giants – who have long been intrigued by Hunter’s collegiate teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders – would thus be in position to nab the polarizing passer. That would align with the belief that Big Blue is “praying” Cleveland takes a non-QB like Hunter so that Sanders will fall to No. 3.

On the other hand, New York is said to be “convinced” Cleveland – its professed comfort in having Kenny Pickett assume QB1 duties notwithstanding – will be the team to take Sanders. The Browns did indeed plan a private workout for Sanders, and according to Howe, the Giants will also meet again with the second-generation star prior to the draft.

With Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston having been added to the QB room in free agency, and with Wilson seemingly in the driver’s seat to serve as the starting quarterback regardless of how the draft unfolds, Giants GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll, who are both clinging to their jobs, may prefer to use the No. 3 pick on a player who can help the team win now rather than a high-upside project like Sanders. To that end, one team picking in the top-10 has told Howe that New York seems to be cooling on the idea of adding a signal-caller with its top draft choice.

Considering the Browns-Hunter connections that have recently emerged — supported by Dianna Russini of The Athletic, who says she no longer believes Cleveland will take a QB (video link) — Howe says if the Giants do not select Sanders with the No. 3 pick, they would likely take Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter (assuming Ward and Hunter are off the board by that time). Carter is seen as one of the draft’s best all-around prospects, and New York is one of the four clubs (along with the Titans, Browns, and Patriots) that secured a visit with him. That said, as our Sam Robinson noted when it became clear the Giants would host Carter, they are the team on Carter’s itinerary that would seemingly need him the least, given the presence of Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Carter is nonetheless a blue chip talent, and if Hunter is gone by the time the Giants are on the clock, and if New York does not believe Sanders represents the best player available at No. 3, there is logic in nabbing the Penn State product. Or, if they feel Carter is not a great fit, the Giants could trade down themselves in an effort to collect more draft capital.

Saints Notes: Sanders, Radunz, Mathieu

April 11th, 2025 at 1:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another Derek Carr restructure ties the Saints to the middling quarterback for the 2025 season and will make it costly to separate in 2026. As GM Mickey Loomis continues to delay a rebuild, New Orleans could have a potential opportunity to land a surefire Carr successor at No. 9 overall. Shedeur Sanders‘ stock has seemingly dipped during the pre-draft process, to the point the QB-needy Browns and Giants no longer seem likely to address their situations by taking the Colorado QB. If Sanders reaches No. 6, the Raiders, Jets and Saints await over the next four draft slots. Of that trio, SI.com’s Albert Breer pegs New Orleans as the most likely team to make the move.

Although this would be a historic development for a Saints team that has repeatedly used free agency and the trade market to address its QB position (last first-rounder: Archie Manning), NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill is skeptical the team would select Sanders at 9. The team has been closely tied to Texas’ Quinn Ewers, in a potential Round 2 move, and team brass dined with Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. The latter, however, may well require a first-round pick. For trade-up purposes, the Saints hold the No. 40 overall pick as well. In late March, Sanders was mentioned as a player unlikely to fall out of the top 10. If the Saints pass, however, that scenario would seem likely.

Here is the latest out of New Orleans:

Formerly in right tackle competitions in Tennessee, Dillon Radunz relocated to guard during the latter part of his rookie contract. The former second-round pick may be settling there with the Saints. Viewing guard as his top position, Radunz said (via ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell) left guard “obviously” will bring competition in New Orleans. Regular 2024 LG Lucas Patrick joined the Bengals in free agency, clearing a spot opposite Cesar Ruiz. Radunz only played right guard for the Titans last season, but he logged 903 snaps there. Radunz’s one-year deal is worth $2.25MM, Terrell notes; it is fully guaranteed.
Tyrann Mathieu‘s latest Saints contract adjustment will lower his cap number from $11.3MM to $6.09MM, Terrell tweets. Achievable incentives are in the contract, which could allow the veteran safety to make money back after agreeing to a pay cut. The Saints will see Mathieu’s deal void on the final day of the 2025 league year, Terrell adds.
Changing coaching staffs, the Saints recently announced they are retaining Jahri Evans. The former New Orleans All-Pro guard is staying on as assistant offensive line coach under Kellen Moore. Evans, 41, had been an offensive assistant over the past two seasons, which stands to make this move a slight promotion. Additionally, New Orleans hired Jay Rodgers to oversee its edge defenders. Rodgers will come over from Atlanta, where he worked under one-and-done DC Jimmy Lake. The Chargers fired Rodgers late in the 2023 season, but that move came shortly after Brandon Staley‘s ouster. Staley hired Rodgers, an NFL assistant since 2009, in 2022 and had worked with him in Chicago previously.

Raiders Arrange Visits With Shedeur Sanders, Will Campbell, Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger

April 10th, 2025 at 11:14am CST by Adam La Rose

Set to select sixth overall, the Raiders find themselves in an interesting position as the countdown to the draft continues. The team could go in several different directions, and a number of first-round options are being examined through pre-draft visits.

Vegas lined up a large number of top-30 visits yesterday, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports the group included LSU tackle Will Campbell and Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham. Both prospects are viewed in the tier below presumed No. 1 pick Cam Ward and the highly-regarded duo of Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. Depending on how the Patriots and Jaguars operate with the fourth and fifth selections, though, neither Campbell nor Graham may be available once Vegas is on the clock.

The Raiders’ work also included their previously-reported visit with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. The Heisman runner-up has frequently been mentioned as a logical fit for Vegas given the team’s struggles on the ground last season and resultant need to find a long-term Josh Jacobs successor. Selecting Campbell or Graham instead would leave a vacancy in the backfield (at least until later in the draft), but it would help shore up the line of scrimmage for a team looking to rebound from a 4-13 season.

A large part of that effort has been the acquisition of quarterback Geno Smith. The trade sending him to the Raiders was recently followed by a two-year extension putting him on the books through 2027, but the team is still interested in exploring rookie signal-callers. Among those with a visit planned is Shedeur Sanders, per Breer. The Colorado passer’s Vegas meeting will take place on Monday, he adds.

Vegas has previously been connected to Sanders, whose stock remains a key talking point in advance of the draft. A fall out of the first round is not expected, but the strength of prospects at other positions for teams not immediately in need of a signal-caller could lead them in another direction. Still, the Browns and Giants have been linked to Sanders interest, and his visit with the Steelers (set to select 21st overall) today illustrates the extent of his list of suitors.

Sanders is not the only QB prospect being looked into. As Breer notes, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Ohio State’s Will Howard were present yesterday, along with Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. Those three passers face a wide range of draft outcomes, but Dart has gained steam for first-round consideration. Ewers and Howard are more logical targets if Vegas – now led by head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Spytek and (to a notable extent) minority owner Tom Brady – plans to wait until after Day 1 to add a quarterback .

Also present for Wednesday’s prospect summit was Carson Schwesinger, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. The UCLA product is seen as one of the top linebackers in the 2025 class, and he is slated to hear his name called sometime in the second round. Vegas owns pick No. 37, which could be used on Schwesinger based in part on how yesterday’s visit went. With respect to the team’s top selection, though, several options are on the table and are receiving consideration.

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