HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 198

POSITIVES

— High-level passer, throws with great accuracy, and ball placement from the pocket.

— Displays mental resolve in late-game/clutch situations. Trustworthy when the game is on the line.

— Accustomed to throwing from muddy pockets. He stands tall to deliver the ball downfield.

— Plus-level athlete, can create second-reaction passing opportunities with his legs by extending plays.

— When protected, picks defenses apart with precision and surgical process.

NEGATIVES

— He does not utilize his athleticism enough to escape the pocket quickly and avoid pressure.

— Needs to limit pocket drifting when sensing pressure and step up instead.

— Improving route anticipation, tends to wait for his WR to break and look for the ball before throwing.

— Needs to improve instincts and feel in the pocket to avoid additional pressure and sacks in career.

NOTES

— Born Feb. 7, 2002

— 4-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Son of Hall of Fame DB, Deion Sanders

— 2023 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year (AP)

OVERALL

Shedeur Sanders is one of the purest passers from the pocket in college football and the NFL Draft class. This will make him appealing to NFL offensive coordinators and head coaches.

He throws a catchable ball on the move or inside the pocket. He has outstanding poise to make plays out of structure when forced out of the pocket. Sanders is an incredibly accurate and precise passer, especially in the short-to-intermediate parts of the field. He possesses the velocity to thrive when targeting receivers in those areas.

Sanders excels at throwing his receivers away from coverage and protecting them from big hits. He displays innate comfort, throwing from muddy pockets with pressure bearing down. He brings outstanding poise and calmness in late-game situations to lead his team to victory.

However, Sanders takes too many hits because he tries to make a play and holds onto the ball. Those hits add up in the NFL and can create injuries for the most important person on the roster. Sanders must improve his anticipation; he tends to be a see-it, throw-it style quarterback. This is part of why he holds on to football, which increases his vulnerability. He is equipped with an NFL-caliber arm, but drifting backward in the pocket negatively impacts the velocity behind his passes.

Although Sanders has been willing to throw from muddy pockets and under pressure, defenses with consistent pass-rush packages can disrupt his timing and speed up his process. He is a QB you want to hit early and often, limiting his ability to become comfortable and settle into the game. It would benefit him to be more proactive with his legs to give himself a better chance to overcome pressure packages earlier in games.

Overall, Sanders' natural and pure passing abilities are the strength of his game. He is capable of winning from clean pockets and out of structure. Sanders will pick defenses apart with his quick release and accuracy, especially if he's kept clean. He is a high-floor prospect with a good enough ceiling to buy into. With his experience and the challenges he has faced, he is worth betting on.

GRADE: 8.61 (Impact player — 1st Round)

OVERALL RANK: 11

POSITION RANK: QB2

PRO COMPARISON: Shades of Joe Burrow & CJ Stroud

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.