Shedeur Sanders: A Quarterback's Journey from College Star to NFL Underdog

Shedeur Sanders, a name that once echoed through college football stadiums, found himself in an unexpected position during the NFL Draft. Many were surprised when he slid all the way to the fifth round. To understand this, one must look at the critiques from former NFL players. One such critique came from Merrill Hoge, a former Steelers running back. Hoge, known for his straightforward opinions, had some strong words about Sanders' potential in the NFL. Hoge's main point was that Sanders' college success might not translate to the NFL. He argued that Sanders' accuracy and decision-making, while good in college, weren't at the level needed for the NFL. Hoge used a scale of 1 to 10, placing Sanders at a 5. This, according to Hoge, means Sanders isn't a franchise quarterback. He believes that Sanders' high completion rate was inflated by the number of short passes he threw. In college, Sanders relied heavily on screen passes, which are easier to complete but don't show a quarterback's true skills. Hoge also pointed out that Sanders' performance declined as the 2024 season progressed. This was evident in the Alamo Bowl, where Sanders had one of his worst games. Hoge compared this performance to Mitch Trubisky's poor bowl game, which was notably bad. Hoge's warning was clear: Sanders might struggle with the expectations and pressure of the NFL. He even predicted that Sanders could set a team back by a few years if drafted too high. Sanders' journey to the NFL has been unique. His father, Deion Sanders, is a legendary figure in football. However, Shedeur's path has been his own. He led his college team with a high completion rate, but Hoge argues that this statistic doesn't tell the whole story. The NFL is a different beast, and Sanders will have to prove himself all over again. His new team, the Cleveland Browns, will hope he can rise to the challenge. The Browns have a few quarterbacks vying for the starting spot, including Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Sanders will have to compete with them and possibly even a rookie named Dillon Gabriel. The pressure is on, but Sanders has shown resilience before. Only time will tell if he can overcome the doubts and become a successful NFL quarterback.