Shedeur Sanders, currently projected by ESPN’s Mel Kiper to be the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, will be looking to improve his chances of becoming the number one overall pick with a standout performance at this year’s NFL Combine. And, in an attempt to prepare himself for the physicality of the league, the former Colorado Buffalo has decided to pack on a few extra pounds this offseason.
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Currently weighing 216 pounds, Sanders is roughly 10 pounds lighter than the average NFL quarterback. On a recent episode of his 2Legendary podcast, the FBS leader in completion percentage detailed his weight gain journey.
“Right now it’s more like weight gaining. Staying in the weight room more… My walk around weight or my strictly lifting weight, won’t be the same as my playing weight,” said Shedeur, who has been banking heavily on the seasoned resources he has in his inner circle to improve on the mental aspect of his game too.
Talking about the role played by his father and Buffs head coach, Deion Sanders, in addition to his QB coach, Pat Shurmur, Shedeur believes that the combined experience of the two mentors will provide the psychological boost he is looking for.
“All the resources that my dad has, just giving me prep for everything. Understanding the whys in the offense we ran… The small details… Coach Pat sat me down, I need to go to Colorado and spend more time with him so I can fully understand the why behind everything and the way that we did it,” added Shedeur.
Going through the most prestigious training camp of any candidate in this year’s draft, Sanders will have no excuses come March 1.
Evaluating the talent of Shedeur
The 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm winner didn’t get to this position simply due to his name. Sanders finished his final season in the Big 12 completing 74% of his passes en route to 4,134 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns. His career completion percentage of 71.8% also marks an all-time career FBS/Division 1-A best.
With the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and the New York Giants all in need of a competent signal caller, Sanders is all but guaranteed to have his name come off of the board by the time the fourth team is on the clock. There also remains the possibility that a team could trade up in pursuit of the second-generation athlete, specifically the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, the main team that is continuously being mentioned alongside Sanders’ name resides in New York. BetColorado is currently giving the Giants a 40% chance, or +150 odds, at landing the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. The Raiders are listed as the second most likely franchise at +200 odds. Meanwhile, the comeback on Tennessee being the team to draft him currently rests at a whopping +800 odds.
Wherever he may go, one NFL franchise is primed to secure a sensational talent in Shedeur when the 2025 NFL Draft takes place at Lambeau Field on April 24.
