The NBA Draft is straightforward for the most part. It’s essentially a pecking order of the best prospects in descending order, since all 5 positions on the court equate to pretty much equal value. Conversely, the NFL variant is a bit more nuanced. Not really an exact meritocracy, with positional value baked in too. Quarterbacks, being the paramount position group, naturally get a bump up the hierarchy. Even if, say, an outside linebacker is perceived to be better pound-for-pound. This nuance is something Shedeur Sanders is hoping to benefit from. However, one ESPN draftnik has delved into an alternative hypothetical. What if players were to be drafted based on their own merit rather than importance and team fit? Let’s just say it’s not a great look for Shedeur.
Apart from the obvious value vested into being a quarterback, there’s one other factor helping propel Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock. Supply not meeting demand. The ‘25 QB class is relatively weak and void of much quality. Merely two- Cam Ward and Shedeur himself- are consensus first-rounders. Compare this to last year, when 6 came off Roger Goodell’s board in the Top 12. Owing to this lack of supply, in tandem with him being a QB, Shedeur Sanders is being projected to land as high as #2 overall to the Cleveland Browns. Which comes with the benefits of a more inflated rookie-scale contract. That said, Field Yates reckons Shedeur would just about make the lottery based on pure skill and ability.
Yates, who’s known to spawn controversy with his opinions now and then, revealed a list of his 50 best draft prospects. Some of the predictable blue-chipers occupied the top spots. 2-way Travis Hunter came in ranked #1, EDGE Abdul Carter #2 and- rather interestingly- interior d-lineman Mason Graham closed out the podium. Shedeur Sanders’ closest contemporary quarterback Cam Ward came in at #6. Which tells you how the position group isn’t in great shape this year, given Cam is heavily favoured to go No.1 overall in the actual draft. Shedeur probably wouldn’t agree he should rank behind Cam. But Yates didn’t just hit him with bad news- he hit him with a reality check.Shedeur Sanders was slated in at #16. This isn’t an indictment, but it contextualizes the reason his draft stock’s been so liquid over this process.
Credits: Imago
Yates’ reasoning included both positive words of affirmation and negative words of warning. He mentioned how Sheduer’s the best pocket passer in the class and uber-accurate. Shedeur was No.1 in the FBS in completion percentage last season. Alongside being 2nd in passing touchdowns, 3rd in passing yardage and 5th in QB rating. To put that into perspective, no other quarterback ranks in the top 10 of all four categories. Not even Cam Ward. Yates even mentioned Sheduer’s “toughness.” Unlike what you’d think of someone who was born with a silver spoon, Sheduer really is tough as nails. He’s even considered the best processor in the flow of the offense and has the necessary intangibles. So why’s Sheduer only 16th?
“[Shedeur Sanders will need to clean up his pocket navigation…While he played behind a shaky offensive line at Colorado, he led the FBS with 42 sacks taken.” wrote Field Yates. A fair opinion held by many. The reasons why Shedeur isn’t an elite prospect are mostly based around athleticism. While Deion Sanders was a freak himself, that raw physical gift didn’t quite permeate to his son. Shedeur isn’t particularly mobile and can’t move the chains with his legs at a high clip. He doesn’t have a canon arm either. More of a traditional, throwback QB. With dynamic quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and lately Jayden Daniels being the favoured archetype, it’s understandable why Yates isn’t a huge proponent of Shedeur.
This comes after NFL Network’s Eric Edholm projected Shedeur Sanders to go 15th overall in his latest mock draft. Interestingly, he sees the Browns trade back into the 1st round and pull the trigger. That does give legs to Yates’ ranking, given another draftnik assumes Shedeur will indeed be available at #15. Although not totally blasphemous, this lowly ranking from Field Yates does come in the midst of his network ESPN coming under scrutiny for disrespecting a fellow QB who’s got a historic football lineage attached to his last name. The close proximity of these doesn’t make for a great look.
Shedeur Sanders’ revelation follows on from controversy centered around Arch Manning
Shedeur Sanders isn’t the only quarterback this week who may feel hard done by where an ESPN analyst has him ranked relative to others. Texas’ Arch Manning also found himself on the receiving end of a slight. Matt Miller did an early ranking of 2026 QB draft class over on NFL Live. He labeled Manning a “tier-two prospect.” who’s “got the name, not the game yet,” Naturally, this didn’t go down well among those of a Longhorns’ persuasion.
Texas Insider’s Anwar Richardson took to X and ranted about what he deemed as blatant disrespect and oversight on a former 5-star prospect. Richardson said “ESPN are missing the forest for the trees” and that they’re “sleeping on a generational talent.” Given how Arch Manning has begun his first spring camp as Texas’ QB1, calling him generational doesn’t seem hyperbolic. Not to mention the very obvious name on the back of his jersey.
As for Shedeur Sanders, there’s still space for this archetype of quarterback in the league. This is evidenced by a Super Bowl contender’s sensational interest in him, incase he does slide to the mid or late first round. Granted, there are monetary advantages to being drafted high. But the lower you go, the better the chance of landing at a solid franchise. One that can be conducive to his growth and development.
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