Shedeur Sanders. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Execs: Shedeur Sanders would’ve been among top QBs in 2024 draft

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 5/6/24

Though the 2025 NFL Draft is a year away, the consensus among scouts and draft experts is that the quarterbacks available next year are not on the level of the ones from the 2024 class.

Headlined by Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Georgia’s Carson Beck and Texas’ Quinn Ewers, the 2025 draft doesn’t appear to have a true Trevor Lawrence- or Caleb Williams-like unquestioned No. 1 overall pick, according to certain draft experts.

But some of the executives Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post has been speaking to believe that’s not entirely true, stating that had Sanders come out this year, he likely would have been a top-five pick.

“I think he would have been under serious consideration with Washington if he doesn’t stay in school,” an anonymous scout told La Canfora. “I honestly believe that, based on some of what I picked up through this process. This kid can really play.”

⚡️ electric ⚡️@ShedeurSanders x @omarionmiller19 pic.twitter.com/IuDKB1loZ8
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) May 6, 2024

Sanders completed 69.3 percent of his passes in his first season at Colorado while throwing for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions, though the Buffaloes went 4-8.

Compared to the six QBs drafted in the first round of 2024, Sanders would have ranked fourth in completion percentage, fifth in touchdown passes and sixth in passing yards.

“Absolutely, he was a first-round pick [this year],” an anonymous GM said. “There would have been seven [QBs taken in the first round]. … He would have been in the top three for us this year. I think had he gone through the entire process, he probably would have been up there with (Caleb) Williams and (Jayden) Daniels.”

Scouts appear to be split on whether Sanders or Beck should be the first passer off the board next year. In the way-too-early 2025 mock drafts, Sanders is consistently picked somewhere in the top five.

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