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2025 NFL Draft: Mike Tannenbaum compares Shedeur Sanders to Kirk Cousins

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•03/25/25•

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Shedeur Sanders Kirk Cousins
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images//Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders will likely be selected in the top five of the 2025 NFL Draft, but will he be like Kirk Cousins when he enters the league? In ESPN’s SportsCenter Special – Mike Tannenbaum’s NFL Mock Draft, former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum had Sanders going to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall. And for his player comparison, Tannenbaum compared Sanders to Cousins.

“He had an outstanding year,” Tannenabum said about Shedeur Sanders. “Led the nation in completion percentage at 74 percent. I think he is a high-floor, lower-ceiling quarterback. I think you can win a lot of games with Shedeur Sanders. For me, the comp is Kirk Cousins. Kirk Cousins has had a really good NFL career.”

Kirk Cousins is currently having multiple issues with the Atlanta Falcons, but he has had a solid career. In 13 seasons, Cousins has thrown for 42,979 yards with 288 touchdowns and 126 interceptions with a 97.4 passer rating. He has an 83-74-2 record in the regular season and a 1-3 record in the playoffs.

Is Shedeur Sanders going to be the next Kirk Cousins?

Cousins joined the Falcons last year after spending six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. In 14 games, the Michigan State alum completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and an NFL-leading 16 interceptions. Cousins could be traded before the start of the 2025 season since the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round last year.

Shedeur Sanders likely wants to have a better career than Cousins. He had a lot of success during his time in college, winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last season at Colorado.

During the combine, Sanders talked about the best quality about himself as a player. “I say being a leader, that’s my best trait overall,” he said, per Sports Illustrated. “Everything’s mental. So, if I play my game from the neck up, I’ve got to be able to adjust to my players, to have them relate to me, to get to know me, and for us to make everything smooth.”