Best Scheme Fit: Once he has
proven he can anticipate his throws on a more regular basis, a
run-heavy attack that features short (0-9 yards) and intermediate
(10-19) passes.
Best Team Fit(s): Steelers, Giants, Titans,
Browns
Non-bolded times - Good examples of attribute Bolded times - Average/poor examples of attribute
* - How well does his skill set carry over
to the fantasy game? For quarterbacks, a player needs to be a
realistic threat for 4,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards
to be a candidate for a perfect grade. Positional scarcity at
the pro level is also a part of the equation.
Positives
Consistently accurate when protected (80.8 percent
completion rate on passes from a clean pocket and 69.5 percent
completion rate on throws 10-plus yards downfield in 2024).
No stranger to chaos in the pocket (which he will likely
see plenty in the NFL); flashed enough pocket presence to believe
it could be a strength relatively quickly in the pros.
Took a beating at times in college, proving he has the
requisite toughness to keep his eyes downfield even when he
knows he will take a hit.
Elevated two programs during his college career (Jackson
State went 23-3 in his two years there, while Colorado won 13
games in 2023-24 after winning nine in the previous three seasons).
He is used to dealing with the limelight and expectations
that come with expectations - the ones that come with his position
as well as living up to the family name (son of Hall of Famer
Deion Sanders).
Negatives
Not much evidence of him being able to anticipate
throws, although he made some progress in this area in 2024.
Slightly above-average athleticism; able to move the
chains with his legs but is far from a game-breaker.
Undisciplined with regards to his drop-back; will occasionally
drift into pressure or drop back too far, making it easier for
outside pressure to get home. (How much was a lack of trust
in his offensive line to blame?)
Good but not great arm strength.
Repeatedly guilty of giving up ground and making poorly
blocked pass plays worse.
Bottom Line
Colorado's offensive line has struggled to pass block since Sanders
joined the Buffaloes after leaving Jackson State, especially against
stunts (which is usually a sign of poor communication up front).
However, that alone does not explain or excuse him taking an FBS-high
52 sacks in 2023 or an FBS-high 42 sacks in 2024. (Pro Football
Focus credited him for being directly responsible for 26.2 percent
of the pressures he faced this season - the highest mark in this
draft class.) Another critique was offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur
relying almost exclusively on a true spread attack. While this
approach did wonders for giving Sanders easy reads (24.1 percent
of his passes came at or behind the line of scrimmage in 2024)
and inflated his passing efficiency numbers, it largely wasted
Shurmur's 25 years of pro coaching experience on the offensive
side of the ball. While he is not a statute by any means, Sanders
tries to extend plays too often and does not possess the athleticism
to escape defenders if he tries to buy too much time.
With that said, he took a step forward in 2024 in terms of throwing
on time. More development in this area will be critical to his
ability to serve as a starting quarterback in the league because
he is not a good enough athlete to be a see-it-and-throw-it passer
in the NFL. Until anticipation becomes more of a strength, it
would be a mistake for his next team to rely on him as anything
more than a caretaker. On the plus side, Sanders does two things
as well as any quarterback in this draft class: he is highly accurate
and he gives his receiver run- after-catch opportunities. He also
possesses the necessary toughness and accuracy - especially in
the short and intermediate areas of the field - to give himself
a chance at long-term success in the pros. Whereas draft classmate
Cam Ward has a higher ceiling and a lower floor, Sanders is probably
the safer selection of the two in that there is a decent chance
he will be a solid but unspectacular pro quarterback.
Doug Orth has written for FFToday since 2006 and joined the
Fantasy Points website before the start of the 2024 season. He is
also a highly successful high-stakes player who often appears as
a guest analyst on Sirius XM. Doug is also a member of the Fantasy
Sports Writers Association. Please check out his new podcast with
JJ Wenner called "The All-Out Blitz."
