As Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback Shedeur Sanders gears up for the 2025 NFL Draft, fans and analysts have begun sharing their best player comparisons for the top prospect.
2025 NFL Draft Projections for Shedeur Sanders
After having the best season of his collegiate career, Sanders has solidified himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Being the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders puts immense pressure on the young quarterback, but he more than lived up to the hype this season.
Throwing for over 4,100 yards to go along with 37 touchdowns, the Colorado QB confirmed that it wasn’t his last name that got him to this point. He has been so good that he is expected to be selected within the first 10 picks of the NFL Draft, if not the first five.
Who Is Sanders’ Closest NFL Player Comparison?
Looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft, some people have begun questioning who the best player comparison is for Sanders, a question posited by FantasyPros’ managing editor Pat Fitzmaurice on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Anyone have a good NFL player comp for Shedeur Sanders?
It's tough to think of one. I'm old, and I've searched the dustiest corners of the ol' cranial library for possible comps from the '80s and '90s, and … I got nuthin'.
— Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) January 15, 2025
One comparison previously featured on PFN is Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow, which is very high praise but also makes a lot of sense. Not only were both players among the best in college football, but they also shared a lot of the same attributes.
Burrow is known for his arm, but his ability to extend a play with his legs makes him extremely versatile. Sanders can also be a mobile quarterback, but like Burrow, it’s not what he’s known for, as he’s seen a lot of success throwing the ball.
One fan on X said, “[Sanders] throws like Geno Smith but keeps the play alive more like Caleb Williams.”
He throws like Geno Smith but keeps the play alive more like Caleb Williams
— Lost in the (2xAll-Pro)Sauce (@AdamRolfe11) January 15, 2025
Though this comparison isn’t to one single quarterback, it’s a great use of combining traits from different players. Fitzmaurice went as far as to say that this was the best response he’s seen to his tweet yet.
This is a fantastic comparison. Smith’s arm talent is very solid, but it isn’t generational, and Williams displays the ability to extend plays similarly to Burrow. Adding Williams’ abilities as a playmaker to Smith would make for a lethal quarterback, which could prove to be the case in Sanders’ NFL career.
Another fan also said Geno Smith was a good comparison but added Dak Prescott as well, saying, “Dak Prescott/Geno Smith.”
Dak Prescott/Geno Smith
— Snoog's Fantasy HQ (@FFSnoog) January 15, 2025
Prescott is a sneakily good comparison as he’s fairly similar to Smith, but he’s historically been a bit more favorable both in the passing and rushing game. His mobility is similar to Sanders’, in the same sense as Williams and Burrow’s as he only really uses it when necessary.
Prescott also doesn’t set the bar too high. He’s been very good throughout his career, but he’s never been generally considered one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.
Another fan suggested that he could be similar to another young quarterback, saying, “Bryce Young has been my comp for a while now.”
Bryce Young has been my comp for a while now
— Monte (@MONTECRI5TO) January 16, 2025
Though Young hasn’t had much time in the NFL to develop, this could be one of the best comparisons. Young still has a lot of potential to be great, but he hasn’t been outstanding thus far.
Sanders is a bit of a wild card because he has a high ceiling but a very average floor. That said, the same can be said about Young, displaying why the comparison is pretty spot on. Young hasn’t had the best tools to work with around him, but he showed a lot of promise toward the end of the 2024 season. Sanders could have a similar trajectory, especially considering he could end up on a team that doesn’t have many weapons.
NFL reporter Benjamin Allbright thought that Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson could be a good comparison, outside of his running game, adding, “Deshaun Watson, if Watson didn’t run. Same build, same arm, same type of offense needed to be successful.”
Deshaun Watson, if Watson didn’t run. Same build, same arm, same type of offense needed to be successful.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) January 16, 2025
The biggest problem with this comparison is that Allbright is removing a big part of Watson’s game. Someone like Smith is a better comparison because he naturally lacks much of a run game.
That said, when considering the factors that Allbright laid out, he does make a good point. Though Watson isn’t what he used to be, on the Houston Texans, he displayed some incredible arm talent. It may not have been the best in the NFL, but he was on a path to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL early in his career.
It didn’t pan out for him, but it definitely could for Sanders if he’s put into the right situation. He may need a couple of years to develop into a true starter in the NFL, but if he can find his rhythm at the professional level, he could be a star like Watson once was.
Which of These Comparisons Is the Best?
While it’s hard to pin one player to be the best, the most common name thrown out in response to this question has been Smith. Smith may not have the same playmaking ability as Sanders, but he’s a very safe choice.
A player like Burrow could be a good option for his ceiling whereas a player like the current form of Watson is better as his floor.
