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NFL Scout Had Telling Draft Grade For Shedeur Sanders

Originally posted on The Spun | By Kameron Duncan | Last updated Jan 4, 2025 11:46 AM ET

The 2025 NFL Draft is only a few months away, and some of the league's worst teams are looking for a quarterback to turn their fortunes around.

The New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns are among the teams in need of a new quarterback, and they are expected to consider Colorado's Shedeur Sanders for the job.

Sanders has been considered the top quarterback in the draft class for some time, but it appears that not all scouts share the same opinion. One NFL Network reporter says that the variation on Sanders' draft stock is one of the more interesting aspects of this year's class.

During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero explained the range of opinions on the Colorado quarterback heading into this year's draft.

“Shedeur Sanders, for a variety of reasons, is going to be a fascinating overall evaluation,” Pelissero said on Friday.

“I’ve already talked to people within the league who don’t have anything close to a first-round grade on the guy.”

Pelissero acknowledged that some mock drafts and predictions have Sanders as a top pick - possibly even the No. 1 pick - but that he may not even be the first player from his team selected.

“The idea that he’s just going to walk in and going to be the No. 1 pick, that’s probably pushing it," he added.

"If I were guessing who comes off the board first, I’d say Shedeur is not the first Colorado player off the board as it stands today.”

BOULDER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 26: Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes warms up prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on October 26, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)Andrew Wevers/Getty Images

Many believe that Heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter could potentially be the first overall pick, especially if the team that ends up with it doesn't need to draft a quarterback. The New England Patriots, who currently hold the No. 1 pick, would fit that description.

“Travis Hunter may be a generational type of player,” Pelissero said.

“Somebody may well fall in love with Shedeur Sanders and he could go No. 1 overall. I would just say, in my conversations, there is healthy skepticism among people in the league that, when it comes to the end of the process, and they get to that last week of April, somebody is going to jump out there and use a really high pick on making him a franchise QB.”

We'll see how things end up for Sanders in the NFL Draft, but it doesn't appear that his status as a top-five pick - or, apparently, even a first-round pick - is set in stone.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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