“Is the Next Andy Dalton Hidden in This Year’s QB Draft? Former Player Reveals Surprising Comparisons!”

As the NFL draft approaches, the quarterback landscape is shaping up quite differently than last year, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering: Who’s the next breakout star? While names like Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are likely to dominate headlines, one intriguing prospect is drawing comparisons to a familiar face—Andy Dalton. Yes, you read that right! Tim Hasselbeck recently stirred the pot by suggesting that Shedeur Sanders of the University of Colorado, despite lacking the explosive prowess we often crave, could embody a similar trajectory to Dalton’s—solid, dependable, but perhaps not the flashiest choice. This raises a tantalizing question: Is a comparison to Dalton a boon or a burden for Sanders as he embarks on his NFL journey? As we dissect Sanders’ potential and trot down memory lane with Dalton’s career, let’s explore what this resemblance truly means for the evolving narrative of this year’s draft class.

This year’s NFL draft class isn’t quite as chock-full of potential-laden quarterbacks as last year’s class was.

There isn’t someone who possesses as much natural talent as Caleb Williams, and there isn’t someone who is projected to make as big an instant impact as Jayden Daniels.

But there is Shedeur Sanders from the University of Colorado, who, in the minds of many, could either become a star or fizzle out pretty quickly.

Tim Hasselbeck said Sanders lacks elite physical talent and said his best player comparison is Andy Dalton, which is not an insult.

“My comp on Shedeur Sanders has kind of been in that Andy Dalton range,” Hasselbeck said on ESPN’s “NFL Live.”

"My comp on Shedeur Sanders has kind of been in that Andy Dalton range."@tthasselbeck shares how he believes the Colorado QB will translate to the NFL. pic.twitter.com/FcbHXR1u4D

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 31, 2025

Dalton has long been a reliable, if not a prolific, quarterback in the NFL.

He was named to the Pro Bowl three times in his first six seasons and surpassed 4,200 passing yards twice during that span, and for his career, he has accumulated 39.500 passing yards and 253 passing touchdowns in 175 games over 14 seasons.

He hasn’t been a full-time starter in a couple of years, but he filled in well last season as a starter when the Carolina Panthers benched Bryce Young and threw for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 66.3 percent of his pass attempts in six games.

Sanders had 4,134 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns last season while with Colorado, and while he isn’t large or explosively fast, he is very efficient and precise.

He completed 74.0 percent of his pass attempts in 2024, and he ended his college career with a 70.1 percent pass completion rate.

The post Former Player Compares QB Prospect To Andy Dalton appeared first on The Cold Wire.