Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders has made a bold prediction: his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This confident assertion came during a conversation on "The Pacman Jones Show," hosted by former NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones.
When asked about the future of Shedeur and teammate Travis Hunter, Sanders initially deflected, suggesting it depended on which teams were struggling. However, the discussion quickly shifted to the current holders of the top draft pick – the New York Giants or the Las Vegas Raiders. Jones then directly asked Sanders who he thought would be the top selection. Sanders' response was unequivocal: "Shedeur is going to be the number-one pick." He further expressed certainty that the Giants, should they retain the top pick, wouldn't trade it, claiming inside knowledge. This comes after Giants' general manager Joe Schoen and assistant general manager Brandon Brown were observed at a Colorado practice, likely scouting both Shedeur and Hunter.
Both the Giants and Raiders are in dire need of a quarterback. The Giants released Daniel Jones, and their current backups aren't under contract for next season. While the Raiders have Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew, neither is viewed as a franchise quarterback, leaving the door open for a high-profile draft pick like Shedeur Sanders or Miami's Cam Ward. With both teams holding a 2-12 record, the top pick will likely come down to strength of schedule if they finish with identical records. Any win by either team could significantly alter their draft position, as several three-win teams are currently positioned to draft ahead of them based on strength of schedule.
Shedeur Sanders has had a stellar season, boasting a 69.3% completion rate, 3,926 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. He's been instrumental in Colorado's impressive 9-3 turnaround from a 4-8 record the previous year. His performance has earned him accolades like the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, recognizing the nation's top quarterback for character, academics, and athleticism, as well as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award. Both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are expected to play in the upcoming Valero Alamo Bowl against BYU on December 28th.
