Colorado OC Pat Shurmur had a simple message for NFL teams in need of a quarterback
Mar 12, 2025, 2:43 PM
Colorado Buffaloes offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has been around the game of football as a coach for almost 40 years. He knows how to coach in the pros and in college, he has seen all kinds of different players and even won the AP Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2017.
Shurmur coached Shedeur Sanders, one of the top quarterback prospects in the NFL Draft, for two years at Colorado. After the Buffs’ first practice of spring football Tuesday, Shurmur had a simple message for NFL teams that are looking for a young quarterback in the Draft.
“If you need a quarterback, draft Shedeur [Sanders],” Shurmur said. “If you don’t need a quarterback, take Travis [Hunter]. As my daughter would say, it’s not that deep.”
The ex-Colorado signal caller has widely been considered as a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft, but with a plethora of quarterback moves like Geno Smith being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s unclear exactly where Sanders will be drafted, especially as Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson still haven’t found a home for the 2025 season.
Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2024, both of which are school records for a single season. He also holds the Colorado single-game record for passing yards and the career record for passing touchdowns, despite playing just two seasons.
Possible teams who could select Sanders with their first round pick include the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, who hold the top three picks in the draft. Other teams after that like the Raiders and the New York Jets have already made their respective moves for a quarterback. Miami’s Cam Ward is currently the favorite to be the first quarterback off the board, with Sanders being the second.
“Quarterbacks have to have confidence… If you don’t have confidence, it ain’t happening,” Shurmur said. “… [Sanders] has some of the traits that will allow him to be very, very successful.”
Sanders’ success in the league will heavily depend on the situation he is drafted to. Oftentimes, quarterbacks like ex-Bronco Zach Wilson don’t succeed after being a top pick because they have a very weak supporting cast around them.
“Whatever team chooses to pick him, [they’re] going to make a really good choice,” Shurmur said.
