Miami’s Cam Ward will be the first quarterback selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but after he goes No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, it may be a while before Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders comes off the board.
Odds are that neither the Cleveland Browns (No. 2) nor the New York Giants (No. 3) will take Sanders. There’s also a chance that Sanders isn’t the second QB drafted.
Just how far might Sanders fall if he slides past those early picks, given most teams picking No. 4 through No. 8 aren’t desperate to take a franchise passer? Here’s looking at his most likely landing spots from No. 9 through No. 26:
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Shedeur Sanders draft projections
1. Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 21 overall (40 percent)
The Steelers have become the new odds-on favorites to land Sanders, even if they have to trade up a few spots to secure him as their next first-round rookie QB. It’s been three years since Kenny Pickett didn’t pan out at No. 20 overall, so it’s time for Pittsburgh officials to take another shot.
With only Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson at QB, the Steelers have the league’s shakiest depth chart at the position. With the Titans going Ward, Sanders’ long wait may be well worth it to end up with a winning organization.
2. New Orleans Saints, No. 9 overall (30 percent)
The Saints have been tied more to Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams in the days leading up to the draft. Sanders is fading a bit as their targeted selection despite the fact they have a lot more QB uncertainty now with Derek Carr’s concerning shoulder injury.
The Saints already have seen what they have behind Carr on the depth chart with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. They also took a flier on former Cowboys backup Ben DiNucci. There is no reliable answer to start the season in New Orleans. The Saints need to decide whether to accelerate their rebuild with Sanders as their QB of choice this year or be hopeful about the hometown “March for Arch Manning” in 2026.
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3. Seattle Seahawks, No. 18 overall (10 percent)
The Seahawks are a strong candidate to trade up or trade back, with the latter scenario possibly involving the Steelers to go up and get Sanders. However, they also are transitioning to a strong pocket passing system under OC Klint Kubiak, and Sam Darnold is still not guaranteed to be a long-term veteran starter after his late bloom in Minnesota.
After also adding Drew Lock back into the mix, the team is looking to move on from Sam Howell as a developmental No. 3. Sanders could get the chance to compete with Darnold and re-create the whole Matt Flynn-Russell Wilson scenario from 13 years ago. At worst, he can be groomed well in the scheme to take over should Darnold disappoint in a season or two.
4. Los Angeles Rams, No. 26 overall (5 percent)
Matthew Stafford is back for his age-37 season but the Rams still need to think about the near future at QB. Sanders with Sean McVay can be Jared Goff all over again. The Rams feel like they might be after more offensive skill help for Stafford in the form of impact wideout or receiving tight end, but they also could jump on a falling Sanders, which would be a bad landing spot for him short-term but a potentially great one in a couple of seasons.
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5. Las Vegas Raiders, No. 6 overall (5 percent)
The Raiders made the trade for Geno Smith to set up the Seahawks to move on with Darnold. Las Vegas was once the front-runner for Sanders and may not rule out still taking him as a contingency for Smith, who turns 35 in October. Sanders should be fine with landing here not long after the Browns and Giants pass on him.
6. Miami Dolphins, No. 13 overall (5 percent)
The Dolphins represent a deep cut and the top wild-card team for drafting Sanders. Tua Tagovailoa has his big contract, but there still are some questions about his durability and overall impact. It would be a really bad spot for Sanders, who would face an uphill battle to get on the field as a starter.
7. New York Jets, No. 7 overall (5 percent)
The Jets went with Justin Fields as their veteran Aaron Rodgers replacement in the new Lions-adjacent offense under Tanner Engstrand. Tyrod Taylor remains the seasoned No. 2, with Jordan Travis and Adrian Martinez rounding out the current depth chart.
A decent investment in Fields’ dual-threat ability suggests the Jets might table QB early and take a shot on Alabama’s Jalen Milroe or Texas’ Quinn Ewers on Day 2. Sanders is a different kind of QB — a pocket passer with a limited rushing asset — but they could still see Sanders’ upside as too much to pass up given the comparisons to Goff, Engstrand’s and coach Aaron Glenn’s QB in Detroit. The Jets would more likely get Sanders in a trade-down scenario from this spot than straight up taking him that early.
