ESPN Predicts Colorado's Shedeur Sanders to Land in Eye-Opening NFL Draft Spot

Entering this NFL season, one of the most difficult players to place in future draft scenarios was Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. There were questions about whether Sanders was a worthy first-round draft pick, and how far behind fellow QB prospects like Quinn Ewers and Carson beck he should fall.

But Sanders has been brilliant this season, despite playing behind a weak offensive line that has kept him under pressure more often than most top quarterbacks. Despite all that, Sanders has thrown for 2,018 yards, fourth-most in the nation , and has put up a completion percentage of 72.6%, second among quarterbacks with 200 pass attempts.

As we get into mock draft season (every season is mock draft season, of course), it's become clear that Sanders' stock is on the rise. Skyrocketing, even.

Sanders, in fact, comes in on ESPN's latest mock draft -- from analyst Jordan Reid -- not only ranked as the first quartberback picks, but as the first player selected overall.

That is, in part, because the first team Reid projects making a pick is the Cleveland Browns, who have a decided interest in moving past quarterback Deshaun Watson as quickly as possible. Watson was given a $230 million fully guaranteed deal by the Browns in 2022, a deal the 1-5 Browns badly want to dump.

Because of their poor record, Reid projects the Browns to have the No. 1 pick in 2025. And because of Sanders' talent, as well as his relatively cheap rookie-scale contract, bringing him to Cleveland could speed Watson's departure.

As Reid writes: "Sanders -- currently my QB1 for the class -- is a poised pocket passer whose game centers around his fantastic ball placement and good decision-making. ...  Sanders would be an ideal fit for Kevin Stefanski's scheme, as he can operate from multiple platforms and has the pocket vision to immediately make an impact at the next level."

Related: Colorado's Shedeur Sanders Predicted to Take Over for $230 Million Bust Quarterback