Paul Finebaum breaks down what Shedeur Sanders must do to be QB1 in 2025 NFL Draft

As Colorado gets set to begin its season tonight against North Dakota State , the stage is set for quarterback Shedeur Sanders to begin taking the next step and potentially proving himself as a first-round NFL Draft pick.

Not necessarily just a first-round draft pick, but perhaps the first quarterback off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft, too.

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“I think he can do that without this team being great, because we all know, we hear it every day, NFL scouts don’t follow the scoreboard, they look at the talent,” ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum said on First Take on Thursday morning. “He has to stay healthy. I think that’s the most important thing.”

Shedeur Sanders was hit hard during the 2023 campaign, when Colorado’s depth wore down and a thin offensive line turned into an absolute sieve. He was sacked a nation-leading 52 times.

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That presumably can’t happen again if Sanders wants to go in the first round or as the top quarterback, because it would likely prevent him from fully showcasing what he can do.

Finebaum outlined what must happen for Sanders to have a shot at being the first quarterback off the board.

“If he stays healthy and if he can get some protection,” the ESPN analyst said. “I think people talking about the Heisman is ridiculous because you need to be in contention to win the Heisman. You don’t need to be in contention to be the No. 1 pick.”

Where does Shedeur Sanders stand going into the season?

Well, an ESPN list of the top 100 players in college football ranked him as the No. 24 overall player in the country. That put him fifth among college quarterbacks this season.

So there’s ground to make up to the upside if Sanders hopes to be the No. 1 quarterback in the draft. He’ll have ample opportunities to prove it, though.

Shedeur Sanders and Colorado open their season tonight against NDSU at 8 p.m. ET with a broadcast on ESPN.

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