Shedeur Sanders’ status as the most polarizing player in the 2025 NFL Draft class is fully secure as the hours count down toward Thursday’s first round.
It’s not just analysts, talk show hosts and fans who have varying opinions of the former Colorado quarterback. Oddsmakers have been constantly adjusting their Sanders-related markets during the pre-draft season as well.
Once projected by many to battle fellow quarterback Cam Ward to be the No. 1 overall selection, Sanders now has an Over/Under selection spot of 8.5 at DraftKings. The public has backed Sanders with 76 percent of the money to hear his name called before the ninth pick on Thursday, while 57 percent of the total bets have him going even later.
Sanders is widely viewed as the second-best prospect in a somewhat lackluster quarterback class. With Ward expected to go No. 1 to Tennessee, Sanders’ former Colorado teammate Travis Hunter is in the mix to go next along with Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter.
New England and Jacksonville, who own the fourth and fifth overall picks, already have their franchise quarterbacks. That leaves the first intriguing potential fit for Sanders with Las Vegas at No. 6, followed by the New York Jets. The Carolina Panthers at No. 8 still have 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, while the New Orleans Saints might be hoping Sanders falls to No. 9 with Derek Carr’s 2025 and beyond status uncertain due to a shoulder injury.
Should Sanders fall beyond the Saints, his drop could become the story of the first round with the next four teams each set at quarterback in Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and Miami.
BetMGM is offering Sanders as a +2200 longshot to go No. 2 overall, followed by +700 odds he will go No. 3. The book is also overing +2200 odds Sanders will be selected with the eighth pick, with his shortest odds being +500 to go No. 9, where the Saints currently sit.
SportsBetting.ag is offering odds on all 32 teams selecting Sanders, regardless of position. The shortest odds belong to Cleveland. While the Browns aren’t expected to select Sanders at No. 2, they reportedly have been fielding phone calls from teams interested in moving up.
A trade could see Cleveland slide down a few spots into a place where the front office might be more comfortable selecting Sanders. With Deshaun Watson sidelined by a second torn Achilles, the quarterback depth chart currently includes former Pittsburgh first-round pick Kenny Pickett and veteran Joe Flacco.
SHEDEUR SANDERS TEAM ODDS*
Cleveland Browns (+200)
Pittsburgh Steelers (+250)
New Orleans Saints (+300)
New York Giants (+350)
Las Vegas Raiders (+750)
Los Angeles Rams (+1200)
New York Jets (+2000)
Miami Dolphins (+2800)
Seattle Seahawks (+3300)
Dallas Cowboys (+3300)
Indianapolis Colts (+5000)
San Francisco 49ers (+7500)
Tennessee Titans (+10000)
Minnesota Vikings (+10000)
Detroit Lions (+10000)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+10000)
Carolina Panthers (+10000)
Arizona Cardinals (+10000)
Remaining 14 Teams (+15000 Each)
*Odds from SportsBetting.ag provided for entertainment purposes only.
Sanders’ pre-draft journey has been rife with conjecture, and he will not be on-hand for Thursday’s first round in Green Bay along with other top prospects.
Sanders elected not to participate in workouts at the Big 12 Conference’s inaugural Pro Day last month, though he was in attendance at the event in Frisco, Texas, highlighting the top NFL prospects in the Big 12, and he told NFL Network (broadcasting the event) that he isn’t letting critics get to him.
“It’s a lot of critics, it’s a lot of hate,” Sanders said. “But we know what to do. We know how to handle that in every way, so we remain happy.”
Sanders chose instead to work out at Colorado’s “CU Football Showcase” on April 4. He spoke about his approach and the NFL draft process in general.
“It’s definitely a learning experience,” Sanders said. “A lot of things aren’t in your control, and getting the knowledge from Dad (Deion Sanders) … coaches, family and friends and everybody that’s supporting me and helping me through this process, it’s extremely important. I’m thankful that I have those resources.”
Sanders was the Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team quarterback on the All-Big 12 team in 2024, throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns for 9-4 Colorado, finishing eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
–Field Level Media
