Colorado’s Sanders unlikely to fall out of first round

In a subscribers-only roundup of the latest draft rumors, ESPN’s Jordan Reid says he doesn’t anticipate Sanders falling previous the Jets, who maintain the No. 7 total choice. New York noticed its newest swing at a first-round QB prospect (Zach Wilson) fail spectacularly, a miss that undermined the fortunes of in any other case gifted rosters, and precipitated the failed Aaron Rodgers experiment.

Gang Inexperienced signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40M contract earlier this month, and whereas there’s nonetheless some hope that Fields can develop sufficient as a passer to sufficiently complement his operating skill and to show himself right into a an higher crust QB1, the short-term nature of the deal illustrates his present deficiencies in that regard. 

Sanders could also be an imperfect prospect, however his reportedly poor efficiency in crew interviews doesn’t undo the contact, accuracy, and pocket presence he displayed on the sphere. It could thus not be terribly shocking to see the Jets’ new regime, with its 2025 starter already in place, take a shot at a high-upside expertise.

One participant who has been one thing of a forgotten man within the fixed QB-related chatter surrounding the Jets is 2024 fifth-rounder Jordan Travis. Travis was within the midst of a terrific closing season at Florida State in 2023 when he suffered a ugly ankle damage that torpedoed his personal draft inventory. New York took a flier on him final yr, although he redshirted his total rookie season whereas rehabbing the damage.

Based on Travis’ agent, Deiric Jackson, the Jets’ since-ousted employees rushed Travis’ rehab, thereby undermining his probabilities of seeing sport motion in 2024. 

“His rehab with the Jets was not the perfect,” Jackson stated (by way of ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “They tried to hurry him. It was too quick. There was strain on the teaching employees and so they tried to get him going ahead of the timeline actually was. That induced the setback, and we needed to shut him down fully.”

The character of the setback Jackson talked about is unclear, although Cimini says new HC Aaron Glenn and his staffers are excited to work with Travis. In the meanwhile, the previous Seminole is behind Fields and veteran Tyrod Taylor on the depth chart, and drafting a participant like Sanders would instantly put Travis’ Jets future doubtful. But when the membership takes a special route within the draft, Travis might get sufficient reps to show himself worthy of at the very least a backup job down the street.

For the entire speak suggesting Ole Miss signal-caller Jaxson Dart and even Louisville’s Tyler Shough
may have surpassed Sanders on draft boards across the league, Reid believes the Giants — who personal the No. 3 total decide — can be hard-pressed to cross on Sanders. 

With Cam Ward trying more and more doubtless to go to the Titans at No. 1 overall, one AFC government instructed Reid the Giants are praying the Browns take a prime non-QB expertise with the No. 2 decide, thus leaving Sanders obtainable to be chosen at No. 3. 

Saturday, we realized that Massive Blue’s signing of Jameis Winston
would not preclude the hot-seat tandem of GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll from signing a veteran passer like Rodgers or Russell Wilson
and including a QB by way of their prime draft selection.

In the identical subscribers-only piece cited above, ESPN’s Area Yates confirms Sanders has a professional likelihood to be a top-three selection and is unlikely to fall out of the highest 10-15 alternatives (regardless of some sources expressing their fear about making Sanders a top-10 decide). Equally, Yates and Reid colleague Matt Miller notes the chatter a couple of dramatic Sanders slide has not come from anybody employed by an NFL membership.

Miller acknowledges the Browns stay a viable touchdown spot for Sanders, and he believes the Steelers and their No. 21 decide symbolize the prospect’s ground. Pittsburgh has designs on a championship run in 2025, because it not too long ago acquired and extended WR D.K. Metcalf and is seemingly making a hard push for Rodgers. That stated, HC Mike Tomlin’s well-known streak of .500-or-better seasons not often leaves the crew in place to draft a premium QB prospect, and the 41-year-old Rodgers (and even the 36-year-old Wilson, if the Steelers revisit that chance) are clearly short-term fixes. 

The pre-draft issues that might result in Sanders falling a bit might additionally symbolize an actual alternative for Pittsburgh, as was the case when its AFC North rival Ravens nabbed Lamar Jackson with the No. 32 decide in 2018.