Shedeur Sanders compared to Kirk Cousins by former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum

Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, general managers are trying to learn everything there is to know about quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Whether he’s worth a premium selection remains to be seen, but one team will take a leap of faith on the former Colorado star next Thursday. 

One former NFL general manager had a fascinating comparison for Sanders. According to ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum, the 23-year old has some Kirk Cousins in him. 

“Kirk Cousins,” Tannenbaum responded, regarding who Sanders reminds him of. “When you watch Shedeur play, he’s extremely accurate. Look at his footwork, very good fundamental. The arm strength is good, not great. But you can win a lot of games, as we’ve seen Kirk Cousins do, because of the accuracy, the anticipation.

“By the way, if you like Shedeur, Kirk Cousins career (completion percentage) in college, 64%. Sanders, 71%. The critics will say, ‘Yeah, but there’s a lot of check-downs.’ I don’t care. 71% completion is outstanding. I think there’s that really bodes well for Shedeur.”

Now, is drafting a Cousins-type quarterback enough for a team to be convinced to turn in their draft card with Sanders name on it in the first round of the NFL Draft? That remains to be seen, but that’s what franchises are asking themselves at the moment. 

Cousins has been a more than serviceable quarterback for multiple teams in his career. However, you’re searching for a player with Hall of Fame potential when you’re drafting in the first round, especially within the first five picks. That leaves teams like the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants with more questions than answers regarding Sanders at the moment. 

All told, there’s a reason many media members can’t get a firm grasp on where Sanders will end up next week. He could be drafted anywhere between picks No. 3 and No. 32. That’s a huge range, and one that we haven’t seen for a quarterback in quite some time. ESPN’s Peter Schrager even compared it to Johnny Manziel earlier this week.

Now, Sanders is certainly hoping his NFL career pans out better than Manziel’s, and the team that drafts him will be longing for that to be the case as well. Still, Schrager’s point makes a ton of sense, as Manziel was similarly mocked all over the first round prior to the 2014 NFL Draft.

Time will tell where Shedeur Sanders ends up. Whether he’s Kirk Cousins, better or worse than the veteran quarterback remains to be seen, but it’s an interesting comparison nonetheless for one of the more polarizing prospects in recent memory.