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Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders Announces Major NFL Decision Ahead of 2025 Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Feb 20, 2025 1:31 PM ET

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders could be the first quarterback taken and be one of the first few players picked in the 2025 NFL draft in April.

Three of the teams picking in the top five — the Tennessee Titans (No. 1 overall), Cleveland Browns (No. 2 overall) and New York Giants (No. 3 overall) — all need a new QB, and two more teams drafting in the top 10 — the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6 overall) and New York Jets (No. 7 overall) — could also possibly trade up to land either Sanders or Miami's Cam Ward.

And while most college football stars dream of walking across the stage and shaking NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand after hearing their named called, Sanders has other plans.

In a recent interview with Overtime, Sanders admitted that he will, indeed, skip the 2025 draft, and instead opt to have a bigger celebration close to home with his family and friends rather than try to fly everyone he wants to celebrate with to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI.

“We’ll most likely do Colorado or Dallas,” Sanders said. “We ain’t really decide like fully yet. But yeah, we plan on doing like an event thing where it’ll be fun, it’ll be more family-friendly and friends will be able to come because the only thing with going to the draft, it’s just like I want to spend those moments with my people and you got to think, having everybody come out there, that’s going to be so expensive, you feel me.

“So, cost-wise, you saving a lot of money. You get to be around your people and all of that, like it’s not just me that was able to get to this point. It was a team, it’s a team thing — a team of people that helped me and allowed me to get to where I am now, so I want to make sure I get to be able to enjoy that with everybody and nobody be in uncomfortable situations for traveling just to show support.”

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Sanders’ plans directly oppose those of Colorado teammate Travis Hunter, who’s also expected to be a top-five pick.

Back in January, Hunter was asked if it was true that he would also skip the draft to have a celebration in Colorado like head coach Deion Sanders suggested, to which he debunked any notion he would be anywhere but Green Bay on draft night.

“If I’m the No. 1 pick — I only get to walk that stage one time with a smile on my face,” Hunter said. “[I’ve] got to do it. The first person in my family to do it? Oh, I’m definitely doing it.”

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

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