2025 NFL Draft: QB or not QB? Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur Sanders – Fit Check
If Cam Ward goes No. 1, Shedeur Sanders becomes the next big domino — and honestly, the teams left on the board might fit him even better.
Both Cam and Shedeur bring that rare QB presence — calm, confident, and in control. Both started at smaller schools, both proved they belonged on a bigger stage, and both come into the league with chips on their shoulders and receipts in their pockets. But stylistically, they’re two very different weapons.
Cam is chaos in a good way — off-script juice, wild arm talent, and just enough “what did I just watch?” to get coaches excited and nervous. He thrives when structure breaks down.
Shedeur? He is the structure. He wins with timing, poise, and efficiency. His game is built on precision reads and staying cool when the pocket collapses. He’s not looking to play hero ball — he’s looking to play quarterback. And in the right system, that’s exactly what makes him dangerous.
He’s not the flashiest QB in the class, but he might be the most stable. And for a franchise that needs a steady hand and a long-term leader? Sanders might be the cleanest fit on the board.
Cleveland Browns – The Boring (but Right) Fit
There’s nothing sexy about Shedeur Sanders landing in Cleveland — and honestly, that’s kind of the beauty of it. This team doesn’t need flash or fireworks. It needs a quarterback who can keep the offense from imploding and the broadcast team from sounding like grief counselors.
Shedeur’s game is built for exactly that. He’s a structure guy — timing, rhythm, ball security, and poise under pressure. He’s not trying to win the game by himself. He’s trying to win with the game plan. Let the run game eat, let the defense do its job, and just don’t be the reason things go off the rails.
It won’t set fantasy Twitter on fire. But it’s the kind of fit that could quietly turn into a long-term win — if the Browns can avoid being the Browns. Which, let’s be real, is never a sure thing.
What Could Go Wrong?
The team hits eject midseason, and suddenly Shedeur’s running Stefanski’s precision offense with the practice squad on Sundays. Then Stefanski — fired for not being dramatic enough — is replaced by the next "offensive guru", and the coaching carousel begins. Before long, Shedeur’s name is quietly stitched onto the back of another haunted Browns jersey, hung up somewhere between Brady Quinn and That Other Guy We All Forgot About.
New York Giants – Lights, Camera, Shedeur
If Shedeur Sanders lands in New York, nobody’s going to question whether he can handle the pressure — he’s been living under a spotlight since before he could drive. He’s one of the few rookies in this class who wouldn’t blink when the media turns, the crowd boos, or the back page headlines start writing themselves. That’s just Tuesday for Shedeur.
And on the field? There’s a real path here. Daboll wants rhythm. He wants accuracy. He wants someone who can actually execute his offense without turning every play into a scramble drill. Shedeur fits that mold — he’s built to deliver on time and in structure. Add Malik Nabers as a legit WR1, Tyrone Tracy as a chess piece, and a few athletic projects around the edges, and you’ve got a young, moldable core.
It’s not a clean situation — far from it. The offensive line is still a weekly concern, and Russell Wilson or Jameis Winston could end up starting just long enough to confuse the timeline. But if Shedeur ends up here, he has the poise and processing to survive it… and eventually thrive in it.
What Could Go Wrong?
The offensive line could collapse early and often, turning Shedeur into a live-action crash test dummy by Week 3. Daboll — never one to hide frustration — might lose patience and short-circuit the whole development plan. And if Russell Wilson somehow cooks just enough to snag a playoff spot? Shedeur’s rookie year turns into a clipboard crash course in patience, while the family group chat quietly boils.
Las Vegas Raiders – The Long Play
It’s not the most obvious fit, but it’s not that crazy either. The Raiders just traded for Geno Smith and gave him an extension — which, yes, makes him the guy for now. But he’s also the third-oldest starting QB in the league behind Stafford and Russ, so let’s not pretend this is a 5-year plan.
Enter Shedeur. The offense isn’t flashy, but it’s functional. Bowers is a star, Meyers gives you a steady vet, and there’s enough here for a young QB to grow. And with Pete Carroll now running the show, the setup feels oddly stable — like something a rookie could step into without the house collapsing.
Atlanta just showed the league you can sign a vet and still draft your QB of the future. If the Raiders are serious about building stability for years to come, Shedeur could be the play… even if he doesn’t see the field right away.
What Could Go Wrong?
Geno plays just well enough to keep the job, and Shedeur spends two years waiting for a shot that never comes. Then Carroll retires, the new regime rolls in with a fresh “vision,” and suddenly there’s a new head coach, new draft strategy, and a different quarterback on the board before Shedeur’s even thrown a pass. It’s not that he failed — he just got caught in another Raiders reset.
New Orleans Saints – The Open Door
If Shedeur Sanders lands in New Orleans, he’s not sitting long — if at all. Derek Carr is about as “throwing in the towel” as a starting QB can be. This isn’t a playoff team. It’s a team in transition. And Shedeur could realistically win the job in camp without much drama.
The weapons aren’t elite, but they’re functional. Kamara gives you a true outlet and a safety valve in the passing game. Olave — when healthy — is a technician and chain-mover. And even if the rest of the cast isn’t headline-worthy, there’s enough here to support a young QB without throwing him to the wolves.
But here’s the risk: the scheme. It’s not a clean fit for what Shedeur does best. And when quarterbacks land in systems that don’t match their strengths? That’s where things fall apart — not because they weren’t good, but because the team never gave them a real chance to succeed.
There’s opportunity here. But only if the staff doesn’t fumble it.
What Could Go Wrong?
Carr drags the team to a classic 7–10 season — just good enough to keep things stuck in neutral and buy himself another year of mediocrity. The coaching staff refuses to adapt, doubles down on their stale scheme, and calls it “culture” like that makes it less outdated. Then the inevitable hits: the staff gets canned, and Shedeur’s left trying to win over a new regime that didn’t draft him, didn’t ask for him, and is already peeking at the next shiny QB prospect.
