You may want to reconsider your approach if you’re betting all on one quarterback prospect to lead the Denver Broncos in the future.
According to WalterFootball.com, the Broncos will collapse in 2024 and then rise to the top choice in the 2025 NFL Draft, where they will most likely choose quarterback Shedeur Sanders of Colorado.
While it is not implausible, it would be a spectacular turn of events.
In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Broncos chose Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick. However, according to FanDuel, Denver’s 2024 over/under total is set at 5.5 wins, which is the second-lowest total in the NFL, only surpassed by the New England Patriots at 4.5 wins.
According to WalterFootball.com, “The Broncos drafted Bo Nix, but they almost certainly will do the same thing the Cardinals did when Arizona gave up on Josh Rosen after one year and drafted Kyler Murray. If they are that good in 2024 that they land the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.” Shedeur Sanders possesses strong leadership qualities and a high football IQ. Although his arm isn’t the best, it’s still excellent enough for him to be selected in the top five.
Sanders Would Need to Perform Well Into the Top Pick
Sanders had a 4-8 record in 2023, but that didn’t reflect how good he performed; in 11 games, he passed for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions while also taking 52 sacks. In contrast, StatMuse estimates that if he had played a 17-game schedule in 2023, he would have finished third in the NFL in terms of sacks taken.
Sanders needs to have a fantastic season in order to move up to the No. 1 overall pick in 2025, even though he would have been among the top picks in the NFL draft in 2024.
There are two things he can do to increase his chances of it happening.
First, when Colorado signed offensive lineman Jordan Seaton from IMG (Florida) Academy, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound five-star prospect and the top offensive tackle in the Class of 2024, the offensive line received a significant boost. Seaton will probably get started right away to keep Sanders off his blind side.
Second, the crop of wide receivers in Colorado is incredibly talented. Jimmy Horn (567 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns) and All-American cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter (721 receiving yards) are back.
The Buffs signed Florida Atlantic transfer LaJohntay Wester via the transfer site. Wester was selected All-AAC and AAC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023 and was an AP All-American with 108 receptions, 1,168 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns. Will Sheppard, a wide receiver from Vanderbilt who was selected All-SEC in 2022, is another addition they make.
Notable QB Run in ’24 Won’t Happen Again in ’25
Since six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks of the 2024 NFL draft, it is unlikely that the record-tying streak of quarterbacks selected in the first round of the draft will be replicated in 2025.
Three quarterbacks in 2025 appear to have first-round potential: Carson Beck of Georgia, Quinn Ewers of Texas, and Sanders.
These three are the quarterback prospects that ESPN’s Jordan Reid believes are the best available for the 2025 NFL draft.
Reid described Sanders as “a calm distributor when protected, his game centered around accuracy and ball placement.” Last season, he completed 69.3% of his throws, enough for ninth place in the FBS. He’s never scared to push himself as a thrower and never lacks confidence. His arm strength allows him to hit passes over the middle of the field and hit targets outside of the hashes with accuracy.
“Sanders advanced to the FBS level and had instant success, finishing with 3,230 passing yards, 27 touchdown passes, and three interceptions after dominating at Jackson State in the FCS in 2021 and 2022.”
