Could Shedeur Sanders end up with the Saints? Latest odds favor NOLA heavily
Could Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders find himself wearing black and gold next season? According to the latest odds, the New Orleans Saints are currently the front-runners to land him in the upcoming NFL Draft.
As of now, sportsbooks have placed the Saints in the lead, with DraftKings giving them -130 odds to select Sanders, a significant shift from +300 just days ago.
The reason for this swing is largely tied to the uncertain future of current Saints quarterback Derek Carr. Carr, who dealt with injuries last season, is now reportedly facing a shoulder issue that might require surgery.
If that happens, the Saints could be looking for a new face to lead the offense sooner than expected.
With the ninth overall pick in the draft, the Saints are well-positioned to acquire a quarterback. However, it may not be that easy. The Panthers at No. 8 and other rival teams picking ahead might play spoiler. Alternatively, a team that drafts later could trade up to acquire Sanders, like the Chiefs did in 2017 with Patrick Mahomes.
This keeps the situation fluid and unpredictable as draft day approaches.
Furthermore, Louis Riddick of ESPN recently tweeted that the ninth pick is looking to be "all kinds of interesting." Shedeur's father, Deion Sanders, who is the head coach at Colorado, responded to this statement by retweeting with a knowing emoji.
While speculation points to New Orleans as the most likely destination, one factor remains clear: the Saints desperately need to inject life into an aging, underperforming roster.
If Shedeur Sanders does fall to them at No. 9, it would be hard to pass on the opportunity.
Shedeur Sanders and his draft stock
The Shedeur Sanders conversation extends beyond just New Orleans. Draft experts and analysts have offered mixed opinions about where he’ll land and how early he should be picked.
Some see him as a top-10 pick, while others suggest he could slip further down the board.
As of April 9, BetMGM’s odds show the Saints favored at +220 to pick Shedeur Sanders, followed by the Steelers (+400) and Giants (+400). The Browns and Raiders trail behind with longer odds.
College stats support Shedeur Sanders' potential to be a high draft pick. Across his final two seasons at Colorado, he passed for 7,364 yards, 64 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, completing nearly 72% of his passes.
Critics, however, point out concerns like his habit of patting the ball before throws and holding onto it too long.
Within the NFL community, opinions are equally divided. Some, like Nick Wright, predicted that Sanders would slide to the 21st pick, while Rob Rang of FOX Sports predicted that he would go as high as No. 2 to Cleveland.
The debate highlights the uncertainty around his draft position.
Whether or not he lands in New Orleans, Shedeur Sanders remains one of the most intriguing storylines of this year's draft.