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ESPN’s Matt Miller thinks the Las Vegas Raiders might trade up from No. 8 to No. 2 to pick Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback from Colorado. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah says Sanders reminds him of Geno Smith, which is actually a good thing.
Smith was great in college at West Virginia before finding success in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks.
Shedeur Sanders is the son of Deion Sanders, one of the best cornerbacks ever. He’s really good at throwing and making smart decisions during games. But he’s not very tall, holds onto the ball too long, and hasn’t won many big games yet.
Some experts prefer other quarterbacks over Sanders, like Georgia’s Carson Beck or Texas’ Quinn Ewers.
Jeremiah’s comparison of Shedeur Sanders to Geno Smith disrupts Miller’s draft prediction.
If the Raiders stay at No. 8 and pick Sanders, it could still be a good move. The Raiders might need a new quarterback next year if their current ones don’t work out. Sanders could even be picked higher if Ewers gets injured again.
However, for Sanders to go top two in the draft, Colorado must have an amazing season, and he needs to be a Heisman Trophy finalist. “I was born at night, but not last night,” as they say—Ewers has an arm like Matthew Stafford’s, and Beck shows Joe Burrow-level calmness under pressure.
Even if comparing Sanders to Smith is accurate and positive, not everyone will see it that way. It’s amazing that Sanders could even be considered for the first round like his dad was. He has what it takes but needs to prove he’s more than just hype with good marketing.
For now, Shedeur Sanders is seen as QB3 and should be drafted somewhere between eighth and twelfth overall.
