Where Shedeur Sanders is drafted might determine whether he’s a franchise quarterback or another cautionary tale.
If the Tennessee Titans are indeed committed to Cam Ward at No. 1 overall, it leaves the equivalent of NFL land mines everywhere for Sanders.
The Colorado product is talented, incredibly marketable and has the reputation for turning around programs. He spun winners out of Jackson State and in a two-year run in Boulder.
As draft day approaches, we evaluated the best fits for Sanders — and the places he should hope don’t turn in a draft card with his name on it next week.
Cleveland Browns
Be very afraid of the Browns at No. 2. They spit out quarterbacks like gristle on a $2 steak.
The Browns signed Joe Flacco, but the 40-year-old quarterback is closer to being an Icy Hot pitchman than charting a course through a 17-game season. Perhaps Cleveland — which has four winning seasons this century — brought in Flacco as a one-year, stopgap measure. Sanders will pray the Browns don’t look his way.
New York Giants
Sitting at No. 3, the Giants appear to be a serious contender to select Sanders. What we don’t know is whether that plan involves moving back, or using later picks to attempt to move into position to select him somewhere in the teens.
While Sanders would lap up the presence of a swollen New York media, the Giants signed aging Russell Wilson and future late-night show host Jameis Winston as backups. Sanders going there would put three outsized personalities in one room. It would be ideal for Sanders to avoid the QB cluster in New York.
New Orleans Saints
In a pre-draft surprise, Derek Carr — the presumptive QB1 for the New Orleans Saints — has a bum shoulder that’s so serious his playing status for 2025 is in doubt. The 34-year-old has two years left on his contract and missed seven games last season, the last three with broken bones in his non-throwing hand.
If New Orleans moved on, Sanders could be an option to turn around the Saints. New head coach Kellen Moore could view Sanders as a rookie to mold and build a team around. It’s not the worst situation.
Dallas Cowboys
Even though there are family ties with the organization — Shedeur Sanders’ father, Deion Sanders, won Super Bowl XXX with the ’Boys — Dak Prescott got his bag in the form of $231 million guaranteed less than a year ago.
Dallas has the offensive weapons for a quarterback to succeed. But there’s no way Jerry Jones swallows the poison pill that is Prescott’s contract.
Imagine Jones’ weekly radio show and frequent postgame media scrums discussing Shedeur, Coach Prime clapping back — and it all ending up on YouTube. If it’s a soap opera you want, Dallas is the fit at No. 12.
Indianapolis Colts
Intrigue starts at No. 14. Are the Colts really sold on Anthony Richardson? Or Daniel Jones?
Sanders would have all-purpose running back Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr., who has a pair of 1,000-yard receiving seasons on his résumé.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The best fit — and ideal landing spot — for Sanders is the Steelers at No. 21.
A frequent playoff participant, Sanders could be the piece needed for the team’s first postseason win since 2016. The answer isn’t a washed-up Aaron Rodgers, who has relished leaving teams waiting at the altar while he decides if he’ll take the plunge for another season.
The answer for the Steelers is for Sanders to tumble down the draft board like Rodgers did before the Packers called his name at No. 24 in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
The pomade had long hardened in the spiky hair of a baby-faced gunslinger who sullenly stared into the green room cameras for four hours as the expectations of being a top pick slid by the wayside.
Because of his personality, last name and the fact that he’s a quarterback, ESPN would have a field day with their draft-night coverage should Sanders’ draft stock take a precipitous, Rodgers-like fall.
And the stability of the franchise would provide Sanders with a steady platform on which to start his career. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has never posted a losing season in 18 years. Under his watch, Pittsburgh has made the playoffs 12 times.
The rookie QB would benefit from DK Metcalf and George Pickens at receiver. But it’s the culture in Pittsburgh — a franchise that knows how to win — that could be Sanders’ key to a long, successful career.