INDIANAPOLIS — Shedeur Sanders aced his 13-minute media session and signed off.
“Thank you. Legendary.”
When it comes to the draft, there is a growing buzz at the NFL combine that general managers will respond, “No thank you. Ordinary.”
Before CU fanboys sharpen horns and yell Miss Peggy’s name in vain, understand this has nothing to do with Coach Prime, Well-Off Media or YouTube videos.
Those elements of Sanders’ college experience remain viewed favorably for preparing him for the next level. He has grown up in the spotlight and on camera, his family the football version of the Kardashians.
“I know nothing can faze me,” Sanders said.
The issue boils down to this: His ceiling. Is he a second-contract guy? If an AFC team takes him, can he eventually win a Royal Rumble with Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Bo Nix?
Sanders profiles as a pure pocket passer. That trait is the equivalent of swiping right on a dating app because of a great personality.
“He’s a ball distributor and executor. He’s a lower level prospect than C.J. Stroud, but he’s that kind of quarterback so he needs a good team around him,” said Greg Cosell, who has spent nearly 40 years at NFL Films analyzing players and games. “And he needs to play at an incredibly high mental level. Can he do it? I can’t answer that.”
Sanders must win over a team with his brain. Convince them he can play chess with checkdowns. Protect the ball. Move the chains. Be a game manager, albeit one with a diamond-studded necklace.
“My game is not played from my legs and not even just my arm. The longevity with the all-time greats, what is Tom Brady’s best trait? His mental. He’s able to think,” said Sanders, who counts Brady as a mentor.
“If you have those traits of greatness and I know where I am headed, then why wouldn’t a franchise pick me?”
While Sanders’ mind is beautiful, it doesn’t move the needle like a quarterback who can extend plays with his legs and has Paul Skenes’ arm attached to their shoulder. That stuff matters at the top of the draft.
The University of Miami’s Cam Ward, a friend of Sanders, possesses superior physical skills. Could he be better than Sanders? Sure. He also could be a whole lot worse. Two years ago, Anthony Richardson made scouts feel warm and fuzzy inside and the Colts were left outside the playoffs last season because he completed 47% of his passes with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Ward brings risk. Sanders, as hard it is to believe after watching him scramble in Boulder, represents safe. Wide margins for Ward mean he could flip a city on its ear or be tossed to the curb in three years. Sanders’ floor guarantees he can be a functional starter, but he must make teams believe the 94 sacks he suffered the last two seasons were the result of decisions, not habits. Hold the ball too long in the NFL and retreat backward and Sanders will spend Sundays in a blue tent with a red face.
“Sometimes I was trying to make too much happen. That just comes from a mindset of like, ‘Do or Die’ mentality,” Sanders said. “Sometimes I got caught up in playing hero ball. But I understand where I messed up and I am going to fix it at the next level.”
Somebody will tell you over the next two months that Jaxson Dart is better than Sanders. That’s stupid. But we see stupid every year in the draft as many evaluators were convinced Nix would be a bust.
Sanders is the most pro-ready quarterback.
But back to the ceiling… what is his superpower?
That question hangs over him this week as he meets with NFL teams, opting not to work out until CU’s Pro Day in April.
Sanders has average arm strength by NFL standards. He manipulates the pocket, but is not a dual threat. He is not a great athlete. Teams covet remarkable over reliable.
Watch Sanders operate a two-minute drill and how can you not be impressed? He does not throw a 98-mph fastball, but he overcomes this with a quick delivery and fast processor. He does not have the hardware. But he sure has the software.
“We went from Jackson State to Colorado and changed two programs back to back. So you don’t think I could come to an NFL franchise and change a program again? It’s history. It’s always going to repeat itself,” Sanders said. “You’ve got the ultimate cheat code.”
Sanders has shown humility throughout this draft process, impressing teams with his interviews at the Shrine Bowl and combine.
Put him with the Rams, Dolphins or Saints, and he would flourish. He is not equipped to save the Titans, Browns and Giants. The Jets make the most sense — the Raiders’ Chip Kelly is not ideal — for a number of reasons. General manager Darren Mougey would be inclined to be risk averse as Aaron Glenn establishes the roots of his program.
And they could use a steady force, a man calmer than a lagoon in the huddle and in a media scrum.
Some compare Sanders to Geno Smith, not flattering, but not horrible. But he also has shades of Jared Goff in his game. The Jets new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand came from the Lions.
The cheat code for Sanders? Valuing the right fit over where he gets picked. That is just plain smart.
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