Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders Gets Crushing News After Bowl Game Beatdown

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Dible | Last updated Dec 29, 2024 5:59 PM ET

The college football career of Colorado star quarterback Shedeur Sanders ended with less of a bang and more of a whimper, as BYU busted the Buffaloes by a score of 36-14 in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 28.

However, the outcomes of the NFL slate on Sunday were arguably even worse for Sanders given his status as the prospective No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants each claimed victory, dropping the Raiders to the eighth pick and the Giants to the third pick, were the league to hold the draft today. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots bounced up to the first slot while the Tennessee Titans moved into the No. 2 position.

New England doesn't need a quarterback after drafting Drake Maye third in 2024. Tennessee, however, misjudged former second-rounder Will Levis, benching him for Mason Rudolph late this season.

Sanders' father and coach at Colorado, Deion Sanders, has been open about the fact that there are several NFL organizations that he doesn't find suitable for his son.

And while neither Sheduer or Deion Sanders has spoken specifically about the Titans, the franchise's location in a small market in middle America and lackluster prospects for the immediate future don't bode well for Tennessee as the ultimate destination for the collegiate star.

The Raiders and the Giants appear to be different stories where the Sanders' family preferences are concerned, but both are potentially playing themselves out of contention to draft the QB.

Shedeur Sanders appeared to be on board with New York as his future home when he showed up to the Alamo Bowl with a custom pair of Giants-themed cleats, but the team's win over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday seriously complicates that outcome.

The one hope for Shedeur Sanders to land with the Raiders or Giants is one of those franchises trading into the No. 1 spot. The Patriots will presumably be open to discussing a deal considering the massive haul they could get for dropping just a few picks as well as the fact that they already have a franchise QB in Maye.

However, that scenario also opens the door for teams like the Cleveland Browns to make a similar move, rendering Shedeur Sanders' future far less certain than if the Raiders or Giants held the top pick outright -- which appeared the likely outcome just two weeks ago.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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