Shedeur Sanders Theories Tied to the Vikings
Every NFL team said no thanks to Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, as the son of Deion Sanders suffered a massive tumble down the board after months of forecasts that suggested a Top 3 pick. Since, Sanders has earned the starting job in Cleveland, and now Bleacher Report wonders how Sanders would have fit in Minnesota.
Where Sanders would’ve fit, what it might’ve meant for the QB room, and which decisions would’ve looked different, according to Bleacher Report.
BR’s Kristopher Knox compiled a list of players he would have rather seen on different teams this week. For Sanders, that team was the Vikings.
Revisiting the Sanders Pick Minnesota Let Pass
Could Sanders have cooked in Minnesota?
Bleacher Reports Mentions Vikings as Sanders Hypothetical
Knox referenced several players he’d like to see elsewhere, such as running back Ashton Jeanty with the Chicago Bears or Myles Garrett with the New England Patriots.
On Minnesota for Sanders, he explained, “Had the Vikings simply used the 142nd pick on Sanders instead of trading it for Sam Howell, the former Colorado star might be starting for Minnesota right now.”
“Of course, Sanders wouldn’t provide the sort of veteran presence Wentz did, but he could have pushed McCarthy while providing depth. Considering the bright moments Sanders has managed to produce with a horrendous Browns supporting cast, he might have already overtaken McCarthy as Minnesota’s long-term quarterback.”
Sanders has an 8-touchdown to 10-interception split through six starts.
Knox added, “Yes, drafting Sanders and allowing him to compete with McCarthy would have invited utter chaos. It would have also given us a chance to see the Colorado product grow in Kevin O’Connell’s offense while chucking the ball to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and one of the league’s more impressive receiving corps. As fans, that sounds like a win-win.”
The Value Was There
One hundred forty-three players were picked before Sanders last April, making him a 5th-round pick, which is basically a lottery ticket in NFL-speak.
A few selections before Sanders, Minnesota chose Georgia defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, who’s shown a few moments of promise this season before recent gameday deactivations. If Knox got his way, the Vikings would have pounced on Sanders in Round 5 instead of Ingram-Dawkins.
After all, in January, February, and some of March last year, folks debated whether Sanders or Cam Ward would be picked first near the top of the draft. For all NFL teams, including the Vikings, the value was there on Sanders in the middle rounds, and certainly in Round 5.
He may not blossom into a franchise quarterback, but he’s played better than his Round 3 and Browns counterpart, Dillon Gabriel.
Sanders over Max Brosmer?
In support of Knox’s claim, consider this: Would you rather watch a Vikings game this weekend with Sanders — or Max Brosmer at the helm? Brosmer is the guy who has produced a 5.0 QBR at Seattle and a 9.0 QBR at home against the Lions on Christmas? That’s the alternative right now.
Sanders has not set the world on fire as a rookie — more on that in a minute — but he has made Brosmer look like a middle school quarterback by comparison.
Minnesota may not have a long-term need for Sanders if McCarthy matures into the real deal, but for this season alone, having Sanders on the roster — for the teensy price of a 5th-Round pick — might’ve been worth the squeeze.
He’s already more productive than Brosmer, and currently, a single win (or loss, depending on how you look at it) separates the Vikings from playing the Packers on Sunday for a trip to the postseason. All the Vikings needed was one more win in the last four months to have Sunday’s game mean something.
Instead, they’ll likely play Brosmer in a game that will feel exactly like the preseason.
Sanders’ Success So Far a Bit Overblown
Let’s get this out in the open: Sanders is not a stud. His quarterback efficiency is terrible.
These are the NFL’s 12 worst quarterbacks through 17 weeks per EPA+CPOE (min. 220 dropbacks):
- J.J. McCarthy (-0.009) <– Worst
- Shedeur Sanders (0.001)
- Cam Ward (0.007)
- Justin Fields (0.023)
- Joe Flacco (0.025)
- Geno Smith (0.033)
- Jayden Daniels (0.047)
- Bryce Young (0.056)
- Kirk Cousins (0.057)
- Michael Penix Jr. (0.060)
- Spencer Rattler (0.060)
- Caleb Williams (0.062) <– 12th Worst
In that regard, the desire to see Sanders in purple is a little pointless.
Knox also noted on his Sanders-to-Minnesota dream: “Every team passed on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders before Cleveland finally stopped his slide in the fifth round of the draft in April. Two picks before the Browns took Sanders, though, the Minnesota Vikings traded for Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Sam Howell.”
“The plan was for Howell to provide veteran insurance behind 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season following knee surgery. However, the Vikings quickly soured on Howell, traded him to the Eagles and signed Carson Wentz in late August. Wentz went on to start five games for Minnesota, while McCarthy has been in and out of the lineup with various injuries.”
Next up for Sanders will be his team’s front office deciding to anoint him the 2026 starter, revert to Deshaun Watson as the QB1, or try something new altogether.
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