Shedeur Sanders is the headline entering Thursday's spectacle in a draft devoid of much quarterback talent. While Cam Ward will likely be the top pick in the draft and the first quarterback off the board, he hasn't generated the buzz that Sanders has, mostly because the latter is Deion Sanders' son.
Because of the attention the elder Sanders brought to Colorado over the past two seasons, the younger Sanders has benefited - and sometimes been disadvantaged - from having eyeballs all over him.
Many scouts and NFL personnel differ on Sanders' NFL potential and whether he could eventually become the face of a franchise. However, only one organization must take the gamble. So, who will it be?
Team to draft Shedeur Sanders odds
| Team (Current R1 pick) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Browns (2) | +250 |
| Steelers (21) | +280 |
| Saints (9) | +350 |
| Giants (3) | +400 |
| Raiders (6) | +1300 |
| Rams (26) | +1500 |
| Jets (7) | +1600 |
| Colts (14) | +4000 |
| Seahawks (18) | +4000 |
| Cowboys (12) | +5000 |
| Dolphins (13) | +5000 |
| 49ers (11) | +8000 |
| Titans (1) | +10000 |
Twenty-four hours ago, the Saints were the favorites to land Sanders, followed by the Steelers, Browns, and Giants. New Orleans was the favorite for weeks, but something garnered a major shift in the odds with two days remaining until the draft.
The Browns are now the favorites to draft Sanders, with the Steelers and Saints falling close behind. ESPN's Peter Schrager reported the Browns and Giants are fielding calls for the second and third picks, respectively - presumably to move back and draft a quarterback.
While the shift in odds could be smoke, Cleveland, New York, New Orleans and Pittsburgh are all candidates to draft Sanders as organizations with uncertain quarterback situations. Although there are always wild surprises on draft night, it's hard to imagine a team outside of those four taking a chance on him.
Sanders is the favorite to be the second quarterback drafted at -290. It's almost a certainty (-20000) that Ward will go first overall to the Titans.
Sanders' draft position prop is 8.5, with -600 odds to the over, meaning oddsmakers assign him an 86% implied probability of being drafted ninth or later. He's +380 to land in the top five, giving him a 21% implied probability of hearing his name called there.
It's unlikely anyone would draft Sanders in the first eight picks. If the Browns or Giants want him, they're expected to trade back, as few others are interested. Both teams have done their homework on Sanders, meeting with the Colorado quarterback multiple times.
The Browns, Giants, and Steelers made offseason additions at the position, but none has a long-term solution. The Browns added Joe Flacco and the Giants acquired Russell Wilson.
The Steelers brought back Mason Rudolph but have yet to find a starting-caliber signal-caller. Oddsmakers believe there's a good chance they trade up to acquire Sanders or he falls to No. 21.
ESPN's latest mock draft has Sanders falling to the Saints at No. 9. Derek Carr's shoulder injury may leave him sidelined next season, and reported tension between Carr and the Saints could lead the team to make a move under center. Plus, Carr is entering his 12th year and has declined the last three seasons.
Predicting Sanders' next location is challenging because there's no consensus regarding his ceiling or where he might land. He's undeniably talented and made some incredible plays for Colorado with a weak offensive line. Concerns about his attitude also persist, and teams could raise a red flag due to his father coaching him at every stop in his football journey, which won't be the case in the NFL.
At this point, it's anyone's best guess where Sanders might land. No one should be surprised if he's drafted anywhere from No. 2 overall to somewhere in the second round.
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.
