NFL Draft analysts are starting to raise concerns about Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, with CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso drawing a potential “bust” comparison to former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Sanders, the son of Hall of Famer and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, is projected as a top-three pick in most mock drafts. His high profile has boosted his brand while also making him a target for criticism.
Trapasso still has Sanders going to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9 overall in his latest mock draft.
He notes that Saints head coach Kellen Moore “sees a lot of Jared Goff” in Sanders. However, Trapasso believes Sanders’ downside could mirror Pickett’s career trajectory.
Older, experienced, mostly accurate, predominantly pocket passer with glimmers of athleticism and just as many retreats in the pocket. That’s the one-sentence scouting report on Pickett, and it’s not crazy to fit Sanders into those descriptors either.
Pickett ‘saw ghosts’ often at Pittsburgh, and that cardinal sin of quarterbacking followed him to the NFL, when he’d retreat backward and out of the pocket after two seconds, regardless of the pressure he was or wasn’t facing. Sanders has a similar tendency. When in rhythm, both Pickett and Sanders can look like first-round-caliber passers and raise their respective floors. But they aren’t athletic enough on the field to improvise when things break down on a regular basis.
If Sanders disappoints in the NFL, it’ll be comparable to Pickett in Pittsburgh.
Pickett, selected 20th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, compiled a 15-10 record as the Steelers’ starter before being traded to Philadelphia in March. He was recently dealt again to Cleveland, where he’ll compete for the starting job.
While Pickett remains in the league and has shown flashes of competence, his career has fallen short of first-round expectations.
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Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently highlighted how missing on a first-round quarterback can damage a franchise for years.
“I think Pittsburgh and the Giants are the same this way, in that this is a very real-time example of what happens when you strike out on a quarterback in the first round — and how that can wind up reverberating for years and years,” Breer said. “I think in a lot of ways, this is still a fallout of striking out for the Steelers on Kenny Pickett three years ago and for the Giants on Daniel Jones six years ago. And it feels like those teams are still chasing those mistakes.”
Sanders will need to prove his skills and leadership translate to the NFL level to avoid a similar outcome.
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