Colorado Buffalos quarterback Shedeur Sanders is one of the consensus “big three” quarterback prospects of 2024, along with Quinn Ewers of Texas and Carson Beck of Georgia.
Not only does Sanders have an elite skill set to grow into a franchise-changing QB, but he promises to bring a lot more exposure to his team since he’s the son of NFL icon Deion Sanders.
For this list, we are only focusing on teams that may realistically search for a new quarterback next year. Teams with a steady long-term option or a promising rookie in place were not included.
So, let’s dive right into the five best possible landing spots for Shedeur Sanders in 2025, as well as the five worst.
Is your favorite NFL team one of the best landing spots for Shedeur Sanders in 2025?
Best: Dallas Cowboys
Team chaos all the way!!!
The Cowboys have been the NFL’s media darlings since the ‘90s. Whether they’re good, terrible, or mediocre, “America’s Team” will always be a global hotspot for sports coverage and front-page news.
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So now imagine if Shedeur landed with the Cowboys, his old man’s former team? You know Deion Sanders is going to go above and beyond to build up his son’s reputation and brand, but “Prime Time” wouldn’t have to do that much work if his son landed in Dallas.
The elder Sanders played for the Cowboys from 1995 to ‘99, leading the franchise to a Super Bowl 30 championship in the ‘95 season — the franchise’s last Lombardi Trophy triumph.
You wouldn’t be able to write a much more entertaining story if Shedeur followed his old man’s footsteps and joined the Cowboys three decades later. Suddenly, football’s most hated team…dare we say…will attract more bandwagon fans than ever before?
Dak Prescott is heading into the final year of his contract with the Cowboys. If Jerry Jones doesn’t keep him beyond 2024, why not throw all the chips in and move up to draft Shedeur?!
Jerry cares more about the Cowboys brand than winning on the field anyway, so of course he could sell the farm to land Shedeur. Not to mention that he’d be in a good spot with CeeDee Lamb as his top wide receiver, with a top-tier offensive line blocking for him.
It’s unlikely that Shedeur actually lands in Dallas, yes. But that doesn’t mean they’re not the ideal landing spot for him.
Worst: New York Jets
At first glance, what’s the harm of Shedeur Sanders learning behind Aaron Rodgers for a year or two before replacing the future Hall of Famer as the new face of the New York Jets?
And if you’re Prime Time, why wouldn’t you want your son to play in the nation’s biggest market?
Well, let us remind you that Jets land has been a graveyard for young quarterbacks. Mark Sanchez was supposed to be the franchise savior. Then Geno Smith. Then Sam Darnold. Then Zach Wilson.
Rodgers will make the Jets contenders in 2024 because he’s been playing for almost two decades now. He’s a four-time MVP, Super Bowl champion and future Canton member.
But Sanders? We don’t want to imagine the media circus and clown show that would transpire if he landed with the Jets. This feels like a nightmare scenario where Shedeur would get too caught up in the New York spotlight and worry more about growing his name and brand than anything else.
And the Jets, being the Jets, would be Loosy Goosy and do nothing to try and keep him focused on football.
Please, not the Jets. We don’t need them wasting another promising QB prospect. Anywhere but the Jets!!!
Best: Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have a great mix of veteran stars and young studs on both sides of the ball. DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker, Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Byron Murphy II and Boye Mafe.
If there’s one question mark, it’s the long-term picture at quarterback. 2022 Comeback Player of the Year Geno Smith has two years remaining on his deal, and it’s hard to envision Seattle extending him once this deal runs up – when he’ll be 36 years of age.
Ideally, the Seahawks find Smith’s successor in next year’s QB-heavy draft class. And ideally, that quarterback would be Shedeur Sanders.
Seattle has been a consistent playoff contender over the past decade, and Sanders would be joining a top-flight offense with three capable 1,000-yard receivers, a star running back, and a talented young defense.
Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb did wonders with Michael Penix Jr. at Washington before coming to join Mike Macdonald’s staff. We have no doubt that Grubb would make it work with a can’t-miss talent like Sanders, too.
And if Shedeur isn’t ready to start in 2025? There’s no shame in learning behind Smith for a year before taking over the reins in 2026.
Sanders, Metcalf, Lockett, Smith-Njigba, and Walker? Where do we sign up?
Worst: New Orleans Saints
The Saints may have Derek Carr under contract for three more seasons, but don’t be shocked if another mediocre season on his end leads to GM Mickey Loomis finding a successor in next month’s NFL Draft.
Another lackluster season from Carr in the Big Easy could easily land the Saints a top-5 or 10 pick that would put them in position to select Shedeur Sanders. But if you’re Deion’s son, New Orleans oughta be on your “please no” shortlist.
The Saints are an aging team that’s nowhere close to title contention. Franchise stars Marshon Lattimore, Alvin Kamara, Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Tyrann Mathieu aren’t getting any younger, and Chris Olave is the only proven young star on this roster.
The Saints have a horrible long-term salary cap outlook, which would prevent the front office from building a winner around Sanders. He needs to join a team with a) an established long-term path and b) plenty of young franchise cornerstone pieces.
He won’t get that in New Orleans, where seven to 10 wins a season is enough to please ownership.
Best: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are an interesting team because they have enough veteran star power to win now, but also plenty of young talent in place that will keep their competitive window open long-term.
There’s just too much to love about the idea of Shedeur Sanders coming to Los Angeles, and not just because it’s a giant market that would quickly grow his name.
Sean McVay has already established himself as one of the all-time great quarterback gurus, so we have no doubt that the Super Bowl 56-winning head coach would manage to fully unlock Shedeur’s potential.
Not only that, but Shedeur would benefit nicely from learning behind veteran star Matthew Stafford for a little while before taking over the QB1 job. With Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams as his main weapons, Shedeur would have a strong supporting cast to build around.
Also, GM Les Snead has a knack for grabbing big-time studs after day one of the draft, so of course, building a sustainable winner around Shedeur won’t be a problem.
Did we mention the idea of Shedeur playing in the massive Los Angeles market? No matter which perspective you take, Shedeur to the Rams makes too much sense.
Worst: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
We know the Buccaneers just handed Baker Mayfield a $100 million extension over three years, but the structure of his deal allows the Buccaneers to get out of it after two years if they so desire.
If Tampa Bay is in a position to snag a top QB prospect next year, they may feel inclined to plan life without Mayfield — especially if he regresses from his career year. But if you’re Shedeur Sanders, you oughta hope the Bucs aren’t your next landing spot.
The Buccaneers’ competitive window is rapidly closing. Franchise mainstays Lavonte David and Mike Evans are both on the wrong side of 30, and Chris Godwin is entering the final year of his contract.
The Bucs just don’t have enough young talent in place to remain a long-term contender compared to the NFC heavyweights. If Shedeur lands in Tampa, his only playmaker “might” be Evans — a receiver in his mid-30s.
There are way better landing spots for Sanders than Tampa.
Best: Las Vegas Raiders
For those hoping to see Shedeur Sanders land in a big market, you won’t find many better options than Sin City itself.
Vegas has suddenly emerged as a sports hot spot since the Golden Knights came to the NHL in 2017. The Raiders followed suit three years later, and the Oakland Athletics’ MLB franchise is projected to land in Vegas by 2028.
Now, what if the Raiders added to Vegas’ growing sports momentum by landing an elite quarterback prospect in Shedeur Sanders?
Las Vegas is finally turning a corner now that they seemingly have the right coach in Antonio Pierce, who rallied the team to a strong finish last year after replacing Josh McDaniels mid-season.
And the weaponry. Oh yes, the weaponry.
Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Davante Adams. Can’t-miss rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Secondary guys like Jakobi Meyers, Michael Mayer, and Zamir White? How could Shedeur not produce in this star-studded offense?
Many were shocked that Vegas didn’t come away with a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft, but it’ll all work out in the end if they get their guy next year. So if you’re simply on the team “Wanting Shedeur Sanders to succeed,” you should hope that the Raiders are the lucky winners of his sweepstakes next year.
Worst: Cleveland Browns
If Deshaun Watson doesn’t turn it around in 2024, the Browns may have to consider moving on from their $230 million QB.
As we’ve said before, it’s a bad look for Watson when you remember that Jacoby Brissett was better than Watson in 2022…and that 38-year-old Joe Flacco was miles better than Watson last year.
So if Watson flops again, and if the Browns find themselves in a spot to take a quarterback, should Shedeur Sanders cross his fingers and hope to land with the AFC North club? Absolutely not.
Browns fans don’t want to hear it, but their competitive window isn’t open long-term.
Amari Cooper is entering his age-30 season. Nick Chubb is far from a guarantee to regain his elite form after a gruesome season-ending knee. Joel Bitonio, Jack Conklin, Wyatt Teller, and Za’Darius Smith will all be on the wrong side of 30 by next year.
Plus, imagine if Shedeur headed to a division where he has to face the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers a combined six times a season. No thanks.
And if you’re a believer in coincidences, then Shedeur is bound to join the likes of Tim Couch, Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden, Johnny Manziel, and Baker Mayfield as highly-touted QBs who failed to succeed in Cleveland.
It would just be so typical of the Browns to draft Sanders and ruin his potential. We’re still bitter about how they wasted Manziel’s talents, so let’s just all hope that they don’t get the opportunity to do the same with Shedeur.
Best: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers upgraded their QB room by drafting Russell Wilson and trading for Justin Fields, but both are only under contract for one more year. Unless either of them lights it up in 2024, Pittsburgh could find themselves searching for a new quarterback following the Kenny Pickett disaster.
Another hypothetical: Wilson plays well enough in Pittsburgh and signs a short-term deal. The Steelers still draft a QB early in 2025 and have him learn behind the perennial Pro Bowler for a year or two before he replaces Wilson.
Sanders’ talents would not be wasted in a model organization like Pittsburgh’s. They have a Hall of Fame coach in Mike Tomlin, an elite defense every year, and a prolific set of weapons headlined by George Pickens, Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Pat Freiermuth.
The o-line also has two potential All-Pro talents in Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, Pittsburgh’s last two first-round picks.
If Tomlin could go to the postseason with Mason Rudolph, imagine what he could do with a grade-A QB prospect like Shedeur Sanders.
Also, Sanders coming to Pittsburgh would mean seeing him face both Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson twice a season. Yes please!!
Worst: New York Giants
Many believed the Giants would use the No. 6 pick on Daniel Jones’ replacement, but they decided to take LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers instead.
The good news for the Giants is they can get out of Jones’ awful $160 million contract next year with few financial ramifications. The bad news, if you’re Shedeur Sanders, is that the Giants may very well be in play for your services.
There just isn’t much to like about this Giants team from a long-term perspective. Even if Nabers comes as advertised, who else will make plays on offense? Saquon Barkley is long gone, and the offensive line outside of Andrew Thomas is a disaster.
And like we said on the Jets’ entry, it just feels like the New York market and circs would get to Sanders quickly. And like the Jets, the Giants are the type of organization that would let it all slide.
New York will likely draft a new quarterback next year. Let’s just hope it’s not Shedeur Sanders.
