“Is Shedeur Sanders the Next Big Thing? Mel Kiper’s Shocking Quarterback Comparison Will Leave You Guessing!”

As the excitement builds for the 2025 NFL Draft, one name is making waves more than others: Shedeur Sanders. With lofty expectations and comparisons already buzzing, it’s hard not to wonder how this talented quarterback from Colorado will transition into the pros. Recently, esteemed NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. stirred the pot by likening Sanders to former NFL standout Chad Pennington—a choice that raises both eyebrows and questions. What does it say about Sanders’ potential, and what might this parallel reveal about the complexities of quarterback success in the league? Join me as we dissect this intriguing comparison and what it might mean for Shedeur’s career ahead. Want to delve deeper? LEARN MORE.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is widely viewed as a top-three quarterback prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. But while everyone is eager to know how he’ll do at the pro level, NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. might have the most interesting pro comparison of all.

Appearing on UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio, Kiper revealed that he compares Sanders to former Comeback Player of the Year Chad Pennington. 

“Chad Pennington would probably be my comp for Shedeur. I loved Chad coming out (in 2000). I even had him top-five on the big board. He ended up going 18… He went 18 to the Jets. Ended up playing in Miami. Had a really great career. Was he a Hall of Famer? No. But could you get to a Super Bowl with Chad Pennington? Yeah, you could have if you had a supporting cast around him,” Kiper said.

“That’s why (Tom) Brady was a late-sixth round pick. Because he didn’t have great talent. Didn’t have the greatest arm. Ran 5.24 (in the 40-yard dash). Had a 24” vertical…

“That’s why I don’t buy into this minimizing what Shedeur could be in the NFL. Now it could work that way. But what’s wrong with being an Andy Dalton or a Kirk Cousins?”

1:02 – @MelKiperESPN's comp for Shedeur Sanders? Chad Pennington. https://t.co/c3aziAkc0b

— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) April 2, 2025

For those who don’t remember Chad Pennington, he was the New York Jets’ first-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. Over an 11-year career, Pennington would lead the Jets to the playoffs three times and the Miami Dolphins once, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors with both teams.

Pennington was renown for his accuracy, leading the league in completion percentage twice and even retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in the category. 

However, his career was marred by injuries. That 11-year career included a mere 89 games and just 81 starts. His inability to stay healthy resulted in him retiring after the 2011 season, having played in only four games over the previous three years.

While Shedeur Sanders would probably love to have the same throwing ability as Pennington, no quarterback on earth would want to have Pennington’s injury history.

Who is your pro comparison for Shedeur Sanders?