One of the 2025 国产外流网Draft cycle's main events is in the books, with a notable chunk of the 国产外流网executives, scouts and coaches flocking to Colorado's showcase on Friday. The main attractions were WR/CB Travis Hunter and QB Shedeur Sanders, arguably the two highest-profile prospects in this year's draft (April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin).
Hunter is rated the No. 2 player available by 国产外流网Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, while Sanders ranks No. 19.
Neither prospect participated in athletic testing at CU's pro day after both skipped those drills at the 国产外流网Scouting Combine. But Sanders did throw passes to Hunter and three other draft-eligible receivers, Jimmy Horn Jr., LaJohntay Wester and Will Sheppard.
All 32 teams were represented at the event, including large contingents from the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, who own the second and third overall picks, respectively.
Here are my takeaways from Friday's workout:
1) Sanders plays the hits, but will it move the needle?
Over the past few months, the buzz has built that Miami's Cam Ward is likely to be first overall pick of the draft to the Titans, and it's less clear where Sanders will be taken. Some of the knocks on him as a quarterback have centered around his arm strength and ability to make all the 国产外流网throws.
Friday's throwing session appeared to be aimed at trying to answer those questions. Sanders flashed his trademark accuracy over his 60-plus throws (I had him at 69 attempts), with most of them on target or close to his receiver. Only four of those passes were incomplete, including three drops and one overthrow, by my count.
Jeremiah described Sanders' efforts as "consistent and crisp" during Friday's broadcast of the event. Overseeing the event was Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, watching some of the action from the 12-yard line while facing his son, Shedeur, during the throwing session.
Sanders might have been at his best Friday throwing the ball vertically. After some early warm-up throws and shorter routes, he began to stretch things out. On his 20th attempt, Sanders threw what 国产外流网Network's Brian Baldinger -- who was standing just yards away from the QB -- said was "his best ball of the day" to that point -- and I agreed -- on a beautifully placed slot fade 25-plus yards downfield, right into Horn's hands.
Some of Sanders' throws had a little wobble to them. Baldinger, who was also in attendance for Ward's pro day 11 days earlier, noted that there was more zip on Ward's throws at the Miami鈥檚 pro day.
But Sanders' deep shots between the numbers were tighter and cleaner than expected, as if he had been working hard on getting that part of his game right prior to this showcase event. Evaluators should take note. Yes, Sanders is expected to have his ducks in order prior to the biggest job interview of his life, but it's notable that he clearly prepared and executed those well.
"I heard I can't throw the deep ball," Sanders said to Baldinger and 国产外流网Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche after his day was done. "... That's what I hear. I don't know where they get that from. I understand different throws, and I understand what has to be done.
"... Why would I want to make it harder on my receivers to catch the ball? I understand their strengths, their weaknesses and I'm not going to make it tough on them."
The throws outside the numbers -- short, intermediate and deep -- tended to have more of that wobble in them. Only a few of those passes were clearly off-target, including a red-zone throw toward the end of the session, but QB-needy teams picking at the top of the draft are going to take note of those details, too.
Pro-day throwing sessions always seem to have a little extra spice these days, or something cool thrown in at the end. After a behind-the-back pass -- eat your heart out, Patrick Mahomes -- in the red-zone portion, Sanders and his receivers moved back past midfield for a little surprise: a mock two-minute drill, with a running clock and everything. It's not something commonly seen at pro days, and Sanders was great in those situations in college, so my eyes perked up a little.
Sanders hit the first three passes and worked with tempo, getting up to the line to get ready for the next throw. It was all starting to look promising, but the session ended with Sanders taking a snap and spiking the ball to stop the clock. Of course, there was no field-goal unit running in from the sideline, so that was it.
Ending aside, did Sanders change his draft narrative? That's hard to say. The clean throws on deep shots and in-breaking routes helped; some of the short and outside numbers, which were less tight and clean, left some of the same questions that existed prior to Friday.
"He played it very conservative when it came to the script," 国产外流网Network's Bucky Brooks said, "but I think he showed all the things that he does really well."
With 国产外流网eyes on him, Sanders didn't do anything to unexpectedly hurt himself, and he might have helped convince some teams he's capable of being a starting quarterback one day by answering some of the deep-ball questions. It was fascinating seeing Deion Sanders chopping it up with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who recently lamented his Deshaun Watson investment. The Browns still need a long-terms answer at quarterback badly, and Sanders' skills appear to be a fit for the offense of Kevin Stefanski, who also was in attendance.
Then again, pro days, as well-attended as they might be, can also only tell us so much that we already didn't know. It's also hard to know which prospects teams such as the Browns and Giants might have been there to watch: Sanders, Hunter or both? We'll have to wait a few more weeks to find out.
2) It certainly seems like Travis Hunter wants to catch passes in the NFL.
I wouldn't have blamed Hunter if he had decided to sit out Friday's showcase and stand on his brilliant Heisman Trophy-winning campaign. Instead, he chose to run routes. And I think it sent a clear message: He wants to play wide receiver in the NFL.
Of course, Hunter said at the 国产外流网Scouting Combine that he wants to play both cornerback and wideout -- and he wants to do both full time. But it's doubtful that every 国产外流网team will fall in line with that plan. If given the choice between the two spots, though, or if one position will become his primary role, Hunter might choose offense.
There are 国产外流网decision-makers who believe it's harder to find an elite cornerback in the draft than it is an elite receiver, and that certainly could cast Hunter into a significant role on defense. He's an excellent corner. But note that he didn't run DB drills on Friday. He caught passes.
Wherever he ends up, Hunter also looked like he'd added a little bulk since the combine, where he weighed in at 188 pounds. Jeremiah noted during the early moments of 国产外流网Network's broadcast that both Hunter and Sanders appeared to have put on good weight since the season ended.
There was no highlight-reel or jaw-dropping catch from Hunter, but everything looked routine. The best grab of the day was probably by Horn with a tumbling snag of Sanders' pass down the seam about midway through the performance. Hunter, meanwhile, consistently showed elite foot quickness, change-of-direction skills and the ability to catch the ball -- without gloves, mind you -- outside his frame with ease.
Hunter told Baldinger the reason for the no-glove approach: He wanted to have people hear the ball hitting his hands. That's a new one for me, but with how smoothly he hauled the ball in, I'm all for it.
A few of Sanders' passes to Hunter did not lead him, but Hunter was able to catch balls even if they were thrown behind him and continued his momentum forward after the catch. That was the case whether throws were low, high, behind or out in front.
Hunter might need to tighten up the precision of his routes at the next level, but his acceleration and fluidity were obvious. It's not hard to imagine him easily adapting to a role in which he catches crossers, slants and hooks in the NFL, where he's just allowed to turn on the jets and create.
Does this change Hunter's outlook in the league? Not necessarily, but it did send a message to me that he really wants the ball in his hands. It remains to be seen if the 国产外流网team that drafts him shares that vision, but Hunter did plenty to give them something else to chew on.
