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The countdown toward the NFL Draft continues, and with it, prolonged debate over the next address of former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Shedeur, the son of Deion Sanders, has been at the center of draft discussions for months. Analysts and executives have wildly-divergent opinions on the 23-year-old; though he was the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, there are concerns over Shedeur's mental makeup and the influence of his father in his eventual destination come draft night. Others though see a potential star player, a franchise quarterback for a needy organization.
Mel Kiper praises Sanders' leadership, arm talent
ESPN's longtime draft guru Mel Kiper is one of those analysts positing a bright future for Shedeur. Speaking on ESPN's "Get Up" program, Kiper pushed back on the notion that Deion and Shedeur are going to bring some sort of Sanders "circus" to the NFL, instead offering an imioned defense of the quarterback.
"Shedeur Sanders, what's he saying, I just want to come into the NFL and lead a football team. So, I think this whole Deion-Shedeur stuff is overhyped, it's not accurate," Kiper said. "Shedeur Sanders is all about winning, he's a tremendous game manager, and I think he's a hell of a quarterback."
To that point, Kiper's latest mock draft on ESPN has the New York Giants selecting Shedeur at #3 overall in next month's draft -- possibly pairing him with a veteran like Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers, in what could be a mutually-beneficial move for "tough-as-nails" Shedeur's development.
"g one of those veterans -- two guys who have won Super Bowls -- then double-dipping at the position with Sanders would only help the rookie learn and develop," Kiper wrote. "There would be no pressure to start Sanders right away or be the guy in Week 1."