Shedeur Sanders, a 23-year-old quarterback who shone at both Jackson State and Colorado, has become a focal point in the upcoming NFL draft discussions, particularly regarding the New York Giants. When he was asked about beginning his pro career with the Giants, Sanders beamed. His eyes twinkled with excitement at the prospect of being a member of the band. This reaction highlights the excitement that is already building around his likely first overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Now pictured above with the Caleb Williams trophy Sanders recently wrapped an outstanding collegiate season, culminating in an FBS-leading completion percentage of 74.0%. He passed for 3,289 yards with 37 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions, further strengthening his credentials as a “can’t miss” quarterback prospect. His strong performance helped carry Colorado to its first bowl game in 17 years, only boosting his own draft stock.
Though there are valid criticisms of his talent, people who have worked with Sanders continue to express strong belief in his talent. His offensive coordinator at Colorado has spoken out against the naysayers, emphasizing that the critiques regarding Sanders’ arm strength and athleticism are unfounded. “I think the 31 teams that don’t pick him are going to find out that those two things aren’t correct really,” said former New York Giants coach Pat Shurmur.
Sanders has what some call his “superpower”—elite accuracy. This last season, he provided that accuracy with only 6.5% of the passes thrown off-target. On those deep throws, he flexed major muscle with a ridiculous 95.2 QBR. His ability to connect on long passes has made him a coveted prospect by NFL coaches, like Giants head coach Brian Daboll. During one of their recent owners meetings, Daboll highlighted Sanders’ ability to throw the “moon ball.” This acrobatic talent really shows Sanders’ knack for extending the play downfield.
While Sanders reached awesome success, he struck bumps in the journey all through the season. He was sacked a Division-I-high 42 times and had negative rushing yards, less than the yards lost by sacks. Given these statistics, one must question his protection and mobility. No other player’s ability to extend plays is truly remarkable. Shurmur remarked on Sanders’ adeptness in the pocket: “He knows how to work in the pocket, but he does know how to scramble and make yards.” He likened him to Patrick Mahomes to show that Sanders has that third down killer instinct.
Entering the draft, Sanders is working toward a private workout with the Giants. With the selection event approaching, this training session will be an invaluable opportunity to get prepared. With the Giants set to look for a new franchise QB, this opportunity could prove huge.
Sanders currently ranks as the fifth overall prospect on Mel Kiper Jr.’s Big Board and stands as the top quarterback available in this year’s draft. Deion Sanders, his father, had complete faith in his son’s abilities. He claims that Shedeur will be able to meet every doubter’s challenge that they ask him.
As teams get ready for the 2024 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders is certainly an interesting player to keep an eye on. His college achievements and perfect timing placement made him the most sought-after player. With such immense upside, he turns into the perfect option for any team looking for a quarterback to build around. The Giants would be foolish not to consider these factors just as they’re considering their future at the position.
Leave a Reply