Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders continue to compete for the bragging rights of being the best QB prospect of the 2025 NFL Draft class. However, the former Colorado Buffaloes star’s draft stock has taken a slight dip of late. And it has got to do with how the New York Giants’ situation has changed over the past few weeks.
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Less than a month ago, the Giants were guaranteed to select Sanders with the third overall pick. But after a pair of recent signings — quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson — that may no longer be the case. Will the G-Men choose to defer their search for a long-term QB solution for one more season?
ESPN’s draft guru, Mel Kiper, said if they decide so, it could “come back to haunt them”. And, highlighting that there are multiple QB-needy teams scattered throughout the top half, Kiper doesn’t feel Sanders would fall very far on night one of the draft.
“If they [the Giants] are going to pass on Shedeur, then you’ve got the Raiders. Still not convinced that they wouldn’t take him if he were there, Brady connection. And, then the Saints at nine is as far as he drops,” said Kiper on NFL on ESPN.
The “Brady connection” is indeed interesting. The Las Vegas Raiders have elected to reunite the pair of former Seattle Seahawks — Pete Carroll and Geno Smith. Recent reports suggest that the team is already considering a potential extension for Smith. And, the relationship between Tom Brady and Sanders may be enough to prompt the franchise to take a chance on the second-generation athlete.
However, it is still unclear whether the team views Smith as a bridge piece who could be used to season a young QB.
The other possible landing spot for Sanders that Kiper pointed out, New Orleans, is in the midst of a free fall. Since the departures of Drew Brees and Sean Payton, the Saints have yet to produce a 10-win season.
Furthermore, Derek Carr is entering the final year of his initial three-year deal. He had recently requested a trade prior to having his contract restructured. In addition, the Saints’ newfound head coach, Kellen Moore, is a savant at developing quarterbacks.
These factors indicate that the Saints could stand to benefit from drafting a prospect like Sanders.
Selecting Sanders would be perfect for both the Raiders and the Saints as neither one of them has enjoyed consistent QB play for the better part of the last four years.
However, fellow panelist and former San Francisco 49er player, Louis Riddick, believes that the Giants will pass up on Sanders come April 24. But he maintained that both the teams, as well as the New York Jets, are pretty much in play.
“I think the Giants will pass on him, he does then become a guy who is in play once you start talking about the six to seven range. When you’re talking about the Raiders and the Jets, they have quarterbacks who really are bridge quarterbacks… I don’t think you can just throw those two teams out the window, and then obviously the wild card being the Saints there at nine,” Riddick said.
Regardless of where he lands, the team that is lucky enough to draft Sanders will be receiving a QB prospect who managed to set the all-time FBS career record for completion percentage.
Throw in the fact that the back of his jersey will feature a Hall of Fame surname. And it should be apparent that the fans of these teams would be excited by the idea of their team potentially drafting the former Colorado Buffalo.
