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When Shedeur Sanders decided to return to college to play one more season with the Colorado Buffaloes, there was one clear goal in his mind: improve his draft stock for 2025. Sanders would've been a polarizing draft prospect if he had declared last year. Add in a strong quarterback class that featured Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and more highly touted prospects, and it just didn't make sense for Sanders to leave.
All eyes were on Colorado ahead of the 2024 season, but particularly on Sanders as he would hopefully take another step in his development. So far through seven games this season, Sanders has gone above and beyond. He has consistently been Colorado's best player on offense, at times carrying the team behind a leaky offensive line and with injuries at the skill positions. His ability to extend plays and deliver strikes has made him a top prospect in the eyes of many NFL scouts, and it has him slated to be a potential Top 5 pick in 2025.
Could Carolina Panthers dump Bryce Young for Shedeur Sanders?
With mock drafts already coming out, a specific one from noted draftnik Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network has raised some eyebrows: Fowler has Sanders being drafted by the Carolina Panthers.
As the weeks progress, this continues to look like the path in which Carolina could entertain less than two years after drafting Bryce Young with the top pick. Sanders is an extremely mature and intelligent processor under center with the zip and touch to threaten all levels of the field. A primary pocket er, his ability to win from the shoulders up separates him from many of the QBs in the class.
His description of Sanders delivers high praise, but the landing spot is extremely interesting. The Panthers gave up an insane amount to be able to draft Bryce Young 1st overall in 2023, but he has already nearly cemented himself as a bust; at least in Carolina.
The franchise may need to reset completely and allow first-year head coach Dave Canales to hand-pick his own quarterback. That could very well end up being Sanders.