Just 5 games into the season and the NFL draft board is already switching gears. The draft stock of both Shedeur Sanders and Carson Beck, top QB prospects of the 2025 draft, is also showing dynamic change while one shoots up as another drops.
Pre-season, Beck was largely favored by several analysts to be drafted before Sanders. Given the performance of both QBs in the past 4 games, that narrative has flipped.
After a loss against Alabama, ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay can pinpoint the very fatal flaw that is bringing Beck down. “Just keep an eye on how hard Carson Beck’s receivers have to work for the football too often. His erratic ball placement continues to be an issue. From a scouting standpoint, it’s the biggest difference when comparing him to Shedeur Sanders.”
Per McShay, Beck’s Achilles heel is his accuracy which raises questions about him truly being a top-10 pick, let alone a top QB pick. Ironically, pre-season, a good chunk of analysts were not even sure why Shedeur Sanders was a top 10 pick, mainly because of the sloppy record of Colorado University last season.
Against Alabama, Beck’s struggle was evident. Beck threw for a good 434 yards and 3 TDs but he also threw three interceptions– including one in the end zone with 43 seconds left that cost UGA the 41-34 game.
Sanders, on the other hand, snagged a solid 290 yards and 3 TDs against UCF, and his Hail Mary TD against Baylor was all fans could talk about last Saturday. This success can be partly because of the revamped O-line CU has, or the improvement Sanders had this off-season.
Pointing it out, McShay says, “His receivers just don’t have to work for the ball the way a lot of other prospects make their guys work. Best pure passer (anticipation, placement, throwing guys open, etc.) in the ‘25 class!
SI’s Albert Breer also thinks that Shedeur Sanders “is the superior prospect to Carson Beck at this early point in the season.” Sanders is ESPN’s Matt Miller‘s top QB pick as well, and not Carson Beck.
Considering that it’s only Week 5, anything is possible in the remaining weeks. Both young men have the potential to be NFLs QBs.
And have ample time left in 2024 to do so.
