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Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has a similar playing style to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith coming out of college, according to NFL.com analyst and former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah.
Smith joined the NFL as a second-round pick by the New York Jets in 2013 after four seasons with West Virginia.
“Like Smith during his time with the Mountaineers, Sanders plays in a wide-open college offense that showcases his polish as a passer,” Jeremiah wrote. “Both Smith and Sanders have beautiful throwing motions and deliver a firm/catchable ball. While each is capable of taking the free yards presented in the run game, neither is dynamic as a ball-carrier.
“Following a long, rocky start to this NFL career, Smith blossomed into a Pro Bowl quarterback. I see similar upside in Sanders.”
Jeremiah continued: “They are point guards who play really well within the confines of the play call; they aren’t unscripted, creative playmaker types. It’ll be important for Sanders’ NFL team to realize how to best utilize his skill set.”
Sanders passed for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions in 11 appearances for the Buffaloes during the 2023 season while generating buzz as a potential top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sanders finished his sophomore season having completed 69.6 percent of his passes behind an offensive line that struggled to protect him.
Deion Sanders and the Buffs have shored up their offensive line this offseason by adding recruits like five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, but a tough test awaits Colorado as it gets primed for a return to the Big 12 in 2024.
With Shedeur presumably having the benefit of better protection, scouts should garner a better understanding of his true ceiling under center before he bolts for the NFL.