“They’re Not Taking Shedeur Sanders”: Shannon Sharpe Weighs in on Travis Hunter and Colorado QB Playing For the Patriots

The possibility of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter playing for the same NFL team in the next season is widely being discussed in the fraternity. Both the Buffaloes stars are projected as either top-10 or top-5 picks, with a strong chance of one of them going first overall. However, Shannon Sharpe believes that the Patriots, who hold the first overall pick as of now, are unlikely to draft either of them, forget both.

On the latest episode of The Nightcap, Sharpe evaluated New England’s draft situation. While he would love to see the duo play together, Sharpe doesn’t believe the Patriots will draft Shedeur since they selected their franchise quarterback, Drake Maye, last year. The Pats might consider drafting Hunter, but Sharpe thinks they shouldn’t, given the pressing needs the team has in other departments.

“I think they are more than one player away. I want Travis and Shedeur. Clearly, they’re not taking Shedeur because they just drafted Drake Maye,” said Shannon.

Sharpe added that the Patriots need more than just a wide receiver or defensive back to turn their fortunes around. He suggested that by trading the top pick to a quarterback-needy team, New England could secure multiple high-round picks, which would better address their roster needs.

Co-host Chad Johnson, on the other hand, advocated New England should draft Hunter because of the unique two-way skill-set he comes with. He acknowledged that the Patriots are in a rebuilding phase and need more than one player to return to the glory days they enjoyed during the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era. But he still insisted selecting Hunter would be a game-changing move.

However, there is a good chance that the Patriots might trade their first overall pick.

Sharpe believes trading the 1st overall pick is better for Pats’ future

Though the draft order could still shift, as of now the Patriots hold the first overall pick heading into the final week of the season. They are followed by the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and the New York Giants. Since their final game is against the in-form Buffalo Bills, it’s unlikely the Patriots will lose their spot.

The idea of drafting a generational talent like Hunter is indeed tempting. But the Patriots should prioritize their long-term future by trading the pick, suggested Sharpe.

He explained that by trading the top pick, New England could easily secure three future first-round selections in 2025, 2026, and 2027, along with additional picks for this year. And, despite trading down, the Patriots could still remain in the first round of the 2025 draft.

Considering their weak roster, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, the Patriots have too many holes to fill. Acquiring extra draft capital would give them the best chance to rebuild and address multiple needs effectively.

” I would trade the pick and I’m gonna get me three first-rounders. You are picks away. You are a lot of guys away, especially on the offensive side. You need wide receivers, you need Line, you need some D-Linemen. You need a lot of things to go right in New England,” said Sharpe.

Ocho added that the rebuilding process for the Patriots would take multiple draft classes and many years. The Pats have abundant cap space, though. They can address some of their problems through free agents, splurging to get their hands on many good and experienced players in the process.