ESPN insider provides surprising NFL comparison for Shedeur Sanders

Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, teams throughout the league, as well as analysts in the football world, are trying to get a read on former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. ESPN’s Bart Scott had one of the more interesting theories regarding the projected top ten pick.

The former NFL linebacker believes he won’t slip past the New York Jets at No. 7. Additionally, he compared Sanders to the team’s former draft pick and current Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, predicting the prospect will be a similar player.

“It’s not the guy that they want, I think. I think they would take Mason Graham or Cam Ward. But I think, if he falls to them, at that value in seventh, I think they can’t pass him up,” Scott said, regarding the Jets potentially selecting Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, via Get Up. “I’ve known Shedeur since he was running around the locker room in Baltimore, when I was there with Deion.

“The question about Shedeur isn’t the talent, the poise, the professionalism. It’s his size. It’s his ability to push the ball downfield. The arm strength. We know that everything above the shoulders is elite, but he’s not the greatest athlete. Kinda like Geno Smith.”

A quarterback could certainly be in play for the Jets at No. 7. As the failed Aaron Rodgers experiment comes to an end, they’re trying to usher in a new era, with former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn leading the charge as the team’s new head coach. At the moment, it seems as if veteran Tyrod Taylor will be their starting quarterback.

Of course, there’s a ton of time between now and Week 1, so the situation is more than fluid. Drafting a rookie like Sanders could change the trajectory of their season, and many expect them to explore the free agent market as well, with some predicting New York will make a play for former first rounder Justin Fields if he decides to leave the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As for Scott’s player-comp for Sanders, Smith is a fascinating one. The former Colorado quarterback may not be as explosive as some other prospects, like the aforementioned Ward that he’s in competition with at the moment, but he can sling it downfield and run an offense, and he’s proven that at both Jackson State and during his time in Boulder.

Once Smith was finally in a situation where he could thrive, he showcased the skill that many believed he had when he was drafted in 2013. For the sake of the Jets, if they decide to take a chance on Sanders like they did with Smith over a decade ago, they’d certainly be hoping he finds success in New York, and not on his fourth team after he was picked.

Time will tell what the future holds for Shedeur Sanders, but Bart Scott has cooked up a compelling scenario for the prospect. It’ll all come to a head in April, when we find out where the former Colorado star will be playing his professional football after the 2025 NFL Draft.