NFL Draft Smoke Says Shedeur Sanders Is Sliding, Don’t Buy It

Ever since the NFL Combine in Indianapolis concluded, it feels like the draft stock of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is dropping.

Most recently, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said it seems the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants are starting to look elsewhere at quarterback since the 2025 NFL Draft class at the position is viewed as weaker.

The Giants signed Russell Wilson in free agency and added Jameis Winston as well. It feels like they’re out of the market for a premium rookie quarterback. But the only healthy quarterback on Cleveland’s roster is Kenny Pickett. That’s not going to cut it in a loaded AFC North.

We’ve seen Kirk Cousins linked to the Browns in a trade. They could also opt for a reunion with Joe Flacco in free agency. But are those options really going to stop them from drafting Sanders at No. 2 overall?

Last week, Browns ownership took accountability for the “swing and miss” of the Deshaun Watson trade, and the Denver Broncos showed them a blueprint of how to move off an expensive quarterback by drafting Bo Nix and becoming a serious player in the AFC last year.

But the Browns also acknowledged they won’t rush into their next quarterback decision. They could punt on this season by drafting Penn State’s Abdul Carter to pair with Myles Garrett. They could help whoever their quarterback will be by drafting do-it-all Heisman winner Travis Hunter.

Say the Browns pass on Sanders. That certainly has a chance of happening. How far does he fall? Not out of the first round, but some people are sure making it feel that way.

In the NFL, if you don’t have a premium, young quarterback, you’re wasting your time.

The New Orleans Saints, who own the No. 9 overall pick, have done their homework on Sanders and would be smart to move off Derek Carr, whose ceiling has been seen.

In the top 10, the New York Jets gave Justin Fields a two-year deal, but as we’ve seen in the last half-decade, that doesn’t always stop teams from drafting their quarterback of the future. Same story with the Las Vegas Raiders, who just extended Geno Smith for two years but won’t be serious competitors in the AFC West without a blue-chip, young QB.

Sure, Sanders probably isn’t Jayden Daniels, who was the No. 2 overall pick last season behind Caleb Williams and took the Washington Commanders on a magic carpet ride. But teams around the NFL are desperate to find their own version of Daniels.

Somebody is going to take a flier on him. Early. Don’t let the early-April NFL Draft smoke fool you.