Former Pro Bowl QB drops bold take on Shedeur Sanders’ NFL future

When the Cleveland Browns took Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, more than a few eyebrows were raised about how far the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback had fallen. But one former NFL star believes Sanders’ draft position won’t define his career—only his grit will.

On The Herd with Colin Cowherd, former Patriots Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Bledsoe didn’t hold back in praising what he sees in Sanders’ game.

“I thought he was first-round talent,” Bledsoe told Cowherd. “He’s accurate. He throws with anticipation… Shedeur seems to be able to anticipate. Well.”

That “anticipation” is what Bledsoe called a make-or-break trait in the NFL. As a longtime QB who played behind gritty offensive lines and faced his share of pressure, Bledsoe said Sanders’ ability to stand tall and deliver under fire stood out in his Colorado career.

Sanders was sacked a ridiculous 95 times in the last two seasons. Still, he threw for 7,364 yards, and 64 touchdowns in that time while completing over 70% of his passes.

“He got his ass knocked off in college and still continued to battle,” Bledsoe said. “That’s a quality that’s hard to learn… if you can learn it at all. The best ability, is availability.”

In the eyes of Bledsoe, it’s not just about durability—it’s about mental toughness.

“You’re knowing that you’re going to get hit the next play, but still standing in there and delivering the ball and doing that over and over again… Shedeur seems to have that.”

Despite falling to Day 3 in the draft, Sanders now finds himself with the Browns—a team that may offer him a shot sooner than expected, with Deshaun Watson’s health and consistency under a microscope.

Bledsoe didn’t guarantee immediate success, but made one thing clear: “I believe he’s going to have some success, whether it’s this year, next year, whenever that happens.”

For Buffaloes fans, that’s more than just a vote of confidence—it’s a glimpse into what made Shedeur a star in Boulder, and why he might be one again on Sundays.