Who Does Shedeur Sanders Play Like?
As he begins his NFL journey with a chip on his shoulder and plenty to prove, one question echoes louder than ever: Who does Shedeur Sanders play like?
The 2025 NFL Draft was supposed to be Shedeur Sanders’ coronation — the final act in a college career that saw him break records, headline primetime games, and carry the weight of being both a starting quarterback and the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. Projected by many as a late first-rounder, Sanders instead watched 143 names go ahead of him before the Cleveland Browns finally called his on Day 3.
Now, as he begins his NFL journey with a chip on his shoulder and plenty to prove, one question echoes louder than ever: Who does Shedeur Sanders play like?
From his accuracy to his calm pocket presence, Sanders has drawn comparisons to several NFL quarterbacks — some established, some emerging, and a few lofty. Let’s break down his college performance, playing style, and what it might tell us about his pro-level trajectory.
College Career: A Record-Setting Tenure at Colorado
Shedeur Sanders didn’t just put up video game numbers in college — he rewrote the Colorado record books while shouldering the pressure of being both a coach’s son and the face of a Power Five program in transition.
After transferring from Jackson State to Colorado to follow his father, head coach Deion Sanders, expectations were sky-high. But few could have predicted just how fast Shedeur would silence the skeptics. In his first year with the Buffaloes, he threw for a blistering 4,134 yards — breaking the school’s single-season passing record — and added 37 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. His 74.0% completion rate was not only the best in Colorado history but one of the highest in the nation that season.
Beyond the box score, Sanders brought structure to a chaotic offense that often played from behind behind a porous offensive line. He was sacked 52 times in 2024 — the most of any FBS quarterback — yet continued to stand tall in the pocket, delivering strikes with calm under fire. It was a revealing trait: toughness under pressure, both physical and situational.
Over his entire collegiate career, including his time at Jackson State, Sanders totaled 13,778 passing yards and 123 touchdowns, with a sterling TD-to-INT ratio of nearly 5:1. At every level, he showed the poise of a quarterback beyond his years — and proved he could elevate the play of those around him, regardless of system or personnel.
While Colorado struggled to string together wins, Sanders was consistently the engine that kept the team competitive, often putting up gaudy numbers against top-tier Pac-12 defenses. His mastery of the short passing game and ability to diagnose blitz packages on the fly gave scouts a glimpse of what might translate to the NFL.
Playing Style: Precision, Poise, and Potential
Shedeur Sanders' tape is a study in balance — not a dual-threat quarterback by nature, but a modern passer with just enough mobility and a mind built for processing complexity.
His calling card is accuracy. Sanders thrives on rhythm throws: slants, outs, and dig routes placed right where they need to be, allowing receivers to maximize yards after catch. He’s especially adept at working within structure — hitting the top of his drop and letting the ball go without hesitation. That decisiveness, paired with excellent pre-snap reads, makes him a natural fit for West Coast–style offenses.
Where Sanders really shines is in the intermediate range. He consistently throws with anticipation and touch, often dropping passes over linebackers and between safeties — throws that require both vision and nerve. His release is compact and efficient, giving defenders little time to react once he pulls the trigger.
However, Sanders isn't without flaws — and many stem from that same mental wiring. He’s a methodical processor, which can occasionally lead to paralysis by analysis. There were stretches in 2024 where he held the ball too long, waiting for perfect reads rather than trusting his instincts and making aggressive throws. That indecision contributed to his astronomical sack totals, despite having a respectable internal clock when kept clean.
Athletically, Sanders isn’t a burner, but he’s agile in tight spaces and adept at manipulating the pocket. He can extend plays laterally, and he throws well on the move to his right. But he’ll need to improve his deep ball placement — while the arm strength is there, Sanders occasionally underthrows go routes or misses windows downfield when pressure affects his base.
The NFL will demand more — faster reads, tighter windows, a quicker mental reset after bad plays. But the raw materials are present: accuracy, pocket toughness, football IQ, and a natural command of the position. With refinement, Sanders has the toolkit to become more than just a system quarterback. He could be a rhythm passer who builds an offense around timing, trust, and tempo — all traits highly valued at the next level.
NFL Comparisons: Shades of Familiar Faces
Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
ESPN's Matt Miller draws a compelling parallel between Shedeur Sanders and Jared Goff, emphasizing Sanders' "surgical accuracy" and ability to operate effectively from the pocket. Both quarterbacks excel in timing-based offenses, delivering precise throws under pressure. However, Sanders brings added mobility to the table, potentially offering more versatility in offensive schemes. It's worth noting that Sanders, like Goff, has faced criticism for taking too many sacks, often a result of holding onto the ball too long.
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Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks)
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah compares Sanders to Geno Smith, highlighting their similar playing styles and skill sets. Both quarterbacks are known for their strong arm talent and accuracy, capable of making all the necessary throws in an NFL offense. Sanders' ability to read defenses and make quick decisions mirrors Smith's strengths. However, Sanders is still refining his mechanics and decision-making, areas where Smith has shown greater consistency at the NFL level.
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Aaron Rodgers
While it's ambitious to compare any young quarterback to Aaron Rodgers, Sanders' precision and ability to make tight-window throws evoke similarities. Rodgers' quick release and elite arm strength are benchmarks that Sanders can aspire to as he refines his mechanics and decision-making. Additionally, Sanders' calm presence in the pocket and ability to deliver under pressure are reminiscent of Rodgers' poise during his career.
The Road Ahead: Opportunity in Cleveland
When Shedeur Sanders finally heard his name called in the fifth round, he wasn’t just joining an NFL team — he was entering one of the league’s most crowded and unpredictable quarterback rooms.
The Cleveland Browns are a franchise still seeking stability under center. Despite the massive investment in Deshaun Watson, his play since returning from suspension has been erratic and injury-plagued. Behind him sits Kenny Pickett, a recent Steelers castoff still searching for consistency; Joe Flacco, the aging veteran who heroically led Cleveland to the playoffs in 2024 but is well past his prime; and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, a dual-threat talent who thrived at Oregon but enters the NFL with questions around his arm talent and durability.
In other words, the door is cracked — and Sanders may have the intellect and polish to walk through it sooner than expected.
But if Sanders wants to challenge for real snaps in Cleveland, he'll need to accelerate his development in key areas. His deep ball remains inconsistent — while he can deliver lasers on slants and outs, he occasionally floats passes on vertical routes, allowing defenders back into plays. NFL defensive backs won’t offer the same margin for error he sometimes enjoyed in the Pac-12.
Another hurdle: Sanders played almost exclusively out of the shotgun at Colorado. The Browns run a more balanced offense under coordinator Ken Dorsey, often relying on under-center formations, play action, and timing-heavy route trees. For Sanders, that means learning to drop back with rhythm, sync his footwork with longer-developing plays, and command the huddle like a seasoned pro — all while absorbing a playbook that is multiple times thicker than anything he handled in college.
Still, there's reason for optimism. Sanders has shown a coach’s mind for film study — a trait he credits to growing up around football royalty — and has earned praise for his ability to quickly process defenses at the line of scrimmage. If he can pair that mental sharpness with mechanical refinement and adapt to the speed of the league, there’s a viable path forward in Cleveland.
It might not happen Week 1. It may not even happen in Year 1. But given the volatility in Cleveland's quarterback depth chart and Sanders’ poise under pressure, don’t be surprised if the fifth-rounder becomes more than just a camp arm.
After all, he’s been doubted before.
Carving Out His Own Identity
While comparisons to established NFL quarterbacks provide a framework for understanding Sanders' playing style, it's important to recognize his unique attributes and potential. His college achievements and skill set suggest a promising future, provided he continues to develop and adapt to the professional game. As Sanders embarks on his NFL journey, the football world will be watching to see how he defines his own legacy.