Shedeur Sanders Will Return to Deion's Colorado, Forgo 2024 NFL Draft

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will return to the school for his senior season.

Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show in October, Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders said he expected both of his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, to wait until 2025 to make the jump to the next level.

Shedeur may have needed to think long and hard about his decision, though.

The 6'2" signal-caller saw his draft stock soar early in the season after Colorado started 3-0. During that stretch, he threw for 1,251 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception. He was projected to be the No. 8 overall pick in Bleacher Report's first 2024 NFL mock draft of the year.

The Buffaloes quickly fell back to earth. The losses began to pile up thanks in part to their poor offensive line play, which affected Sanders' performances. When he wasn't getting hit, he was often flushed from the pocket and forced to throw on the run.

Still, there was broad acknowledgement Sanders possessed the tools needed to succeed at the next level. He was also firmly in the group of players for QB3 consideration behind USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye, widely regarded as the two best at the position.

Sanders remained an efficient passer despite the pressure he was regularly facing as well. He completed 69.3 percent of his passes and finished with 3,230 yards through the air, 27 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 151.7 QB rating.

In November, ESPN's Jordan Reid listed Sanders as the third-best quarterback in the 2024 draft class behind Williams and Maye, calling him "one of college football's surprising breakout stars."

"The most impressive part of Sanders' game is his accuracy and poise in crucial moments," Reid wrote. "... He is a calm distributor, and his ability to precisely deliver the ball to his targets on-time and accurately hasn't wavered despite the breakdowns up front."

Especially with how highly quarterbacks are valued, Sanders could've plausibly been a first-round pick if he had entered his name into the 2024 draft. Most players in his position would've jumped at that chance.

The dawn of the NIL era meant major stars don't have to jump at their first opportunity for a big payday, though; they're already collecting one. In Sanders' case, On3 pegged his NIL valuation at $4 million, the second-highest across all college sports.

By returning to school, the Texas native is leaving open the possibility of reaching greater heights both individually and with Colorado.

Sanders has another season to refine his game and perhaps mount a serious Heisman Trophy challenge. The Buffaloes promise to be a stronger squad as well, with Deion Sanders specifically telegraphing the changes that will come to the O-line.

With still so much to gain, one can understand Sanders' decision to keep his NFL dreams on hold.