Colorado Buffaloes quarterback and NFL prospect Shedeur Sanders was asked if he would rather take a hit from either prime Ray Lewis or prime Ed Reed. While appearing on his podcast “2Legendary with Shedeur Sanders,” Sanders outlined how he would rather be hit and tackled by Lewis than by Reed.
Lewis and Reed are widely considered as two of the best defensive players of their generation. Both are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and combined for three Super Bowl Championships, as well as three NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards and 12 first-team All-Pro nominations.
Why Did Shedeur Sanders Chose Ray Lewis Over Ed Reed?
Sanders outlined how though both would be crushing hits, Reed did have the speed advantage over Lewis, something that could make the impact even greater.
“Probably prime Ray Lewis. Ed Reed didn’t care. Prime Ray Lewis didn’t care either, but Ed Reed was faster, so the force would hurt a little more,” Sanders explained.
Despite Sanders choosing Lewis over Reed, both are two of the greatest tacklers and players of the past century. Both men were members of the National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, something that further exhibits their skills and their impact on the NFL over their respective careers.
Sanders’ NFL Future Outlook
Sanders’ comments come ahead of an important few months for him, culminating in the 2025 NFL Draft. By all accounts, Sanders is expected to be picked within the top 10 after coming off a strong campaign with the Buffaloes program. On the year, he had 4,134 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
In Pro Football Network’s recent seven-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft, Sanders was selected No. 6 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
“The marriage of Shedeur Sanders to the Raiders feels too good to be true,” Jacob Infante wrote. “If the Titans pass on a quarterback at No. 1, though, there’s a chance Las Vegas could select its quarterback of the future without having to mortgage the future.”
“Sanders is an accurate passer who stays tough in the pocket and delivers his throws with a sense of touch down the field. Having a head coach like Pete Carroll and a superstar target like Brock Bowers would help the Colorado star mask his shortcomings and emphasize his strengths.”