As Shedeur Sanders continues to prepare for the NFL Draft, all eyes are on what the future holds for the dynamic quarterback. Amid his meteoric rise, former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck weighed in with a thoughtful and somewhat controversial comparison that has left many Colorado Buffaloes fans thinking about Sanders’ potential at the next level. Hasselbeck sees a lot of potential in Sanders but also acknowledges some limitations, drawing parallels with NFL veteran Andy Dalton.
Hasselbeck’s assessment of Sanders’ intelligence and football IQ is glowing. “He is smart. He knows how to play the position,” Hasselbeck stated, praising Sanders’ football acumen. However, Hasselbeck also pointed out that Sanders’ physical attributes aren’t quite on par with top NFL prospects, which could limit his ceiling. “He just is not as physically talented as you would like to see,” said Hasselbeck. While Sanders has excelled in Colorado’s high-powered offense, questions about his arm strength and overall athleticism linger when considering him for an NFL roster in the first round.
Hasselbeck drew an interesting comparison between Sanders and NFL quarterback Andy Dalton. “My comp on Shedeur Sanders has kind of been in that Andy Dalton range,” he said. Both Dalton and Sanders are known for their leadership and consistency. Dalton, despite not being regarded as elite, has led teams to the playoffs and thrown for over 250 career touchdowns. This comparison could suggest that Sanders, while not necessarily an NFL superstar, could still enjoy a productive career at the next level.
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While Hasselbeck is high on Sanders’ leadership and football IQ, he made it clear that for Sanders to be a first-round pick, he would need to possess more “elite traits” that teams often look for in top-tier quarterbacks. Still, Hasselbeck believes in the importance of drafting quarterbacks, acknowledging that teams will always need to take chances on rookies to find a future star.
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While Tim Hasselbeck’s comments on Shedeur Sanders may not be the most glowing endorsement, they serve as a reminder of the realities of the NFL draft. Sanders’ football intelligence and leadership make him a likely future starter, but whether he will ascend to elite status remains in question. Regardless, fans of the Colorado Buffaloes can take pride in knowing their star quarterback has the potential to make an impact at the next level—just not in the way some might have imagined.