Since Prime Time took over the Buffaloes program, the spotlight hasn’t just brightened, it’s straight-up blinding. Deion Sanders is having huge impact, especially heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Colorado, which had kind of faded out of the national football conversation, is suddenly stacked with legit pro prospects—something we haven’t seen from this program in three decades.
Back in 1995, Colorado was a college football powerhouse and had 10 players drafted. Since then? Not even close. Fast forward to now, and thanks to Deion’s influence, talent, and hype machine, Boulder is back on the NFL radar in a big way.
It’s also been a long time since Colorado had a first-round draft pick (14 years, to be exact). And a quarterback from CU hasn’t been drafted in 28 years. But that’s about to change, because two of the biggest names in college football are coming out of Deion’s locker room: Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders.
Both are projected to go very early in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hunter is a rare two-way player—basically college football’s version of a unicorn—who could go top 5, maybe even No. 1. Shedeur, Deion’s son, is a QB with serious arm talent, mobility, and the poise of a seasoned pro. He’s also expected to be a first-rounder.
And they’re not the only ones. With Colorado’s Pro Day officially wrapping up the pre-draft workout season, scouts and analysts are buzzing. Alongside Hunter and Shedeur, keep an eye on Deion’s other son, Shilo Sanders, a hard-hitting safety who’s also in the draft mix. Then there are a few more Colorado playmakers who’ve improved their stock under Coach Prime’s leadership.
So the big question is: Where will they all land? With the draft kicking off on April 24, we’re about to find out just how far Deion’s NFL pipeline from Boulder stretches. The projections are hot, the hype is real—and for the first time in a long time, Colorado is a major draft-day talking point again.
Colorado mock draft projections
Let’s talk potential landing spots for Colorado’s biggest NFL hopefuls, starting with the stars and working our way down the draft board. Thanks to Coach Prime, this 2025 draft class is stacked, and the Buffs are about to make a lot of noise.
First Round
QB Shedeur Sanders (6-2, 221 pounds): Projected No. 2 overall to the Browns
Now, let’s be real—Shedeur is probably more of a mid-to-late first-round QB in terms of pure value. But the Browns? They need a full reboot at quarterback after the Deshaun Watson situation went from bad to worse. This is their shot at starting over, and Sanders brings just the right mix of poise, accuracy, and pocket presence that fits Kevin Stefanski’s offense. He’s a smart thrower with a deep-ball touch and good mechanics. If Cleveland wants a future leader who can command a locker room and sling it downfield, Shedeur’s their guy.
CB/WR Travis Hunter (6-0, 188 pounds): Projected No. 3 overall to the Giants
Hunter is trying to do something special—not just make it to the league, but dominate it, just like Coach Prime did. He’s an elite cornerback with freakish athleticism and a playmaking edge. Sure, he can hop in on offense for some gadget plays, but where he really shines is locking down receivers. The Giants could seriously use that kind of upgrade in the secondary, especially across from Paulson Adebo. Hunter has “franchise defensive back” written all over him and would instantly elevate New York’s defense.
Late Round Picks
WR Jimmy Horn Jr. (5-8, 174 pounds): Projected No. 218 overall to the Falcons (Seventh Round)
Horn is a speed demon. He may be small, but he’s explosive – think of him like a human lightning bolt. He’s dangerous in the open field and can turn a short route into a big gain with ease. Atlanta could use a guy like that for extra receiver depth, especially after moving on from Rondale Moore. Horn’s the kind of player who sneaks onto a roster and then turns heads in training camp.
WR Will Sheppard (6-3, 205 pounds): Projected No. 233 overall to the Bears (Seventh Round)
Sheppard’s the complete opposite build of Horn – tall, physical, and built to make plays on the outside. The Vanderbilt transfer runs clean routes and has solid hands, which would make him a great complementary piece for Caleb Williams in Chicago. He’s a smart receiver who knows how to find soft spots in coverage and win contested balls. Solid pickup for depth with upside.
WR LaJohntay Wester (5-10, 163 pounds): Projected No. 251 overall to the Chiefs (Seventh Round)
Wester is a blend of Horn’s agility and Sheppard’s polish. He works best in the slot, darting in and out of routes and turning quick passes into chunk plays. What really puts him on teams’ radar though is his special teams magic—he led the nation in punt return yards last season, averaging nearly 20 yards a return. The Chiefs love versatility, and Wester could sneak into a higher round just based on his return skills and reliability underneath.
S Shilo Sanders (6-0, 195 pounds): Projected No. 255 overall to the Browns (Seventh Round)
Now here’s where things get interesting. Could the Sanders brothers end up on the same NFL team? If Cleveland grabs Shedeur early, they might take a flier on Shilo late. There are real questions about his durability—he’s dealt with shoulder and knee injuries—but when healthy, Shilo is a fierce, high-energy player. He’s got value both as a rotational safety and on special teams. And let’s be honest, the story of two brothers making it together out of Deion’s program is just too good to pass up.