Analyst compares Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders to former CPOY

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is one of the favorites to be the first overall pick next year after throwing for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and only three interceptions in 11 games last season.

Of course, being the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders helps, too, but NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes it might not be fireworks out the gate, as the 22-year-old reminds him of a former NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

“He reminds me of: Geno Smith coming out of West Virginia,” Jeremiah wrote. “Like Smith during his time with the Mountaineers, Sanders plays in a wide-open college offense that showcases his polish as a passer. Both Smith and Sanders have beautiful throwing motions and deliver a firm/catchable ball. While each is capable of taking the free yards presented in the run game, neither is dynamic as a ball-carrier.”

It took Smith some time to find his footing in the NFL. The second-round pick in 2013 bounced around the league for the first six years of his career, spending time with the Jets (2013-16), Giants (2017) and Chargers (2018).

During that span, Smith threw for an underwhelming 6,182 yards, 29 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. Many had written him off, but he found a way to turn his career around in Seattle.

Smith was named the Seahawks’ full-time starter in 2022 and went on to become the NFL Comeback Player of the Year after throwing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was then rewarded with a three-year, $75M deal.

Jeremiah thinks Sanders, like Smith, has plenty to work on before the next level.

“While I admire his willingness to exhaust every down, Sanders’ tendency to never give in and hold the ball results in far too many sacks,” Jeremiah adds. “…Sanders lacks the ideal suddenness and urgency to avoid defenders and create space/time within the pocket. This can be improved.”

This isn’t to say Sanders won’t be successful at the next level. In fact, he has all the resources around him to be quite the opposite.

However, Jeremiah believes Sanders must continue to build off last year if he wants to reach the expectations of those around him.

“Following a long, rocky start to this NFL career, Smith blossomed into a Pro Bowl quarterback,” Jeremiah concluded. “I see similar upside in Sanders.”