I’ve got a Shedeur Sanders available, if anyone is interested. I’ll even give him away for a third-round pick at this point. Anyone?
Apparently, I’m not going to have any takers on that discounted offer. The 2025 NFL Draft slide heard ’round the world has continued deep into the final round of Day 2, and once the Pittsburgh Steelers passed on the quarterback (again!) with the 83rd overall pick, it became clear that Sanders’ draft free fall has no obvious bottom.
The slide has been so precipitous that NFL legends are openly wondering if the league is actively colluding against Sanders and his father, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
As the quarterback continues to wait to hear his name called, at least one prominent NFL analyst has begun encouraging Sanders to accept the doomsday scenario and return to college.
Mike Florio Suggests Shedeur Sanders Should Return To Colorado With Coach Prime
NFL insider Mike Florio of NBC’s Pro Football Talk has never been one to offer “safe” takes, but his suggestion for Sanders may be his craziest yet. As Sanders slipped into the third round, Florio wrote an article encouraging the quarterback to test the rigidity of the league’s rules and attempt to return to the collegiate level.
“Yes, the NCAA’s rules prevent it. He entered the draft. He accepted benefits via the NFL’s invitation to the Scouting Combine,” Florio conceded.
“But we’ve learned one very important thing about college football in recent years. Most, if not all, NCAA rules violate federal antitrust laws. And with players now making millions in NIL money, why shouldn’t a player with remaining eligibility be allowed to return?”
Florio noted that Sanders can make more money (via NIL) and put together more convincing game tape with another season in college. And he made one final recommendation to Sanders that may be the most absurd of them all — that Sanders should transfer schools and play for someone other than his father.
For what it’s worth, Sanders is coming off a dominant season, leading the Big 12 in completion rate (74.0%), passing yards (4,134), and passing touchdowns (37). He’d be a dynamic addition for any team looking for a franchise QB.
In PFSN’s scouting report on Sanders, the 23-year-old was commended for his toughness and accuracy from the pocket, as well as his ability to make plays on the fly. However, Jacob Infante did warn of his lackluster throwing velocity and tendency to hang onto the ball too long.
“Shedeur Sanders’ arm, though acceptable, isn’t particularly special. He’s not a statue in the pocket, but his athleticism is average. These issues can see him try too hard to extend plays that he simply can’t make, resulting in sacks or poor throws,” Infante explains.
“Compared to the quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft, I would argue Shedeur Sanders would come in seventh as a prospect, ranking behind each of the six quarterbacks selected in the first round. This might make him more of a Day 2 talent, but the 2025 NFL Draft has a severe lack of high-end quarterback value.”
At this point, five quarterbacks have already come off the board: Cam Ward (No. 1 overall), Jaxson Dart (No. 25), Tyler Shough (No. 40), Jalen Milroe (No. 92), and Dillon Gabriel (No. 94). It’s hard to understand why Sanders is falling so far in the draft, behind quarterbacks rated far lower than him among experts in the industry.
It would be practically impossible for Sanders to return to college football, but before the draft, most would have said it would be impossible for Sanders to fall to Day 3.
