Shedder Sanders has been vocal in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft about how media representations have mischaracterized him. On Tuesday, Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt, who observed Sanders’ talents firsthand while covering several Colorado Buffaloes games, affirmed his position.
Joining Gus Johnson in the booth, Klatt expressed confidence that Sanders is talented enough to be selected early in the draft. During his appearance on The Herd, Klatt argued that Sanders deserves to be a top-five or top-six pick, explaining, “I think Shedeur is an incredible player. He was doing at the college level what he is expected to do at the NFL level.”
Klatt went on to critique the evaluation of quarterbacks, stating, “How many times do we evaluate quarterbacks with far superior teammates than their opposition? It’s part of the reason why evaluating college quarterbacks is so challenging. That’s not the case with Shedeur; he was behind a struggling offensive line, yet he transformed a one-win team into a top-25 contender, winning nine games. He had to elevate the play of everyone around him, doing so without a run game or a solid offensive line. He is hyper-accurate in the pocket, capable of creating plays and extending drives, much like Fran Tarkenton.”
Klatt further criticized media narratives surrounding Sanders, calling them unfair products of “lazy journalism” as the draft approaches. “Certain individuals within the league, who will never draft this player, perpetuate myths and untruths stemming from the Combine. They label players as ‘falling’ due to supposed character flaws. I think this type of narrative is lazy and recycles every year,” Klatt asserted. “When you actually watch Shedeur, he is excellent.”
This negativity around Sanders’ draft prospects intensified when NFL insider Josina Anderson reported comments from an anonymous quarterback coach who described Sanders as “arrogant” and “brash.” Although Anderson publicly criticized the coach and provided a different view after meeting Sanders, the damage was done, contributing to a negative perception of him.
Adding to the concerns, Todd McShay reported that multiple teams inside the draft’s top 10 felt that Sanders “did not care much about their opinions,” raising further character concerns. Ultimately, it remains to be seen if these reports will cause a significant drop in Sanders’ draft stock. However, Klatt believes any team overlooking the noise surrounding Sanders will be pleased with their decision.
