NFL analyst sees shades of Geno Smith in Shedeur Sanders

NFL veteran Geno Smith threw for 656 yards and eight touchdowns in a 70-63 victory over Baylor in West Virginia’s first-ever Big 12 game, tying the conference record for the most touchdown passes in a game. Ahead of the Colorado Buffaloes’ first year back in the Big 12, star quarterback Shedeur Sanders is getting professional comparisons to the Mountaineers legend.

NFL analyst and former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah recently expressed the similarities he saw between the two in his scouting report of the projected first-round pick. Jeremiah watched the Buffs’ games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks and UCLA Bruins from Sanders’ junior season, and he cited what he liked about the QB’s game.

When comparing Sanders to Smith, Jeremiah wrote:

Like Smith during his time with the Mountaineers, Sanders plays in a wide-open college offense that showcases his polish as a passer. Both Smith and Sanders have beautiful throwing motions and deliver a firm/catchable ball. While each is capable of taking the free yards presented in the run game, neither is dynamic as a ball-carrier.

Following a long, rocky start to this NFL career, Smith blossomed into a Pro Bowl quarterback. I see similar upside in Sanders. As my Move The Sticks Podcast partner Bucky Brooks would say, both of these signal-callers are more shooters than scorers. They are point guards who play really well within the confines of the play call; they aren’t unscripted, creative playmaker types. It’ll be important for Sanders’ NFL team to realize how to best utilize his skill set.