Analysis, highlights from Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter at pro day
NFL teams finally got to see both players work out at Colorado’s pro day on Friday, and what they got was short, highly productive and, yes, a successful pro day for the two stars.
Sanders was mostly crisp, especially with his deep passes. Hunter ran gorgeous routes.
Sanders, known to be a harsh self-critic (like many great players) said afterwards on the NFL Network the workout wasn’t perfect, and he strives for perfection.
The most interesting thing he said in the interview with the network was how he tells teams to not shy away from asking him question they want.
The workout was shorter than most pro days, but Sanders mostly helped himself and, more importantly, didn’t do anything to damage his draft stock.
Today’s pro day at Colorado under coach Deion Sanders was maybe the most hyped workout session of the 2025 NFL draft process, maybe even more so than the combine in Indianapolis earlier this year.
So the “will they work out question” is finally answered. It happened. Now comes the hard question: where will they go in the draft?
USA TODAY Sports provided the latest updates, highlights and more from the pro day workouts of Sanders and Hunter.
‘Body fat of a hummingbird’
Those were the words of the NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger describing Hunter. Not much to add to that.
Shedeur Sanders vs. Cam Ward NFL combine measurements
Cam Ward
Height: 6015
Weight: 219
Hand: 9
Shedeur Sanders
Height: 6014
Weight: 212
Hand: 9 3/8
Sanders’ deep passes are excellent
Yes, as with all pro days, the quarterback isn’t pressured. There are also no defensive backs. Yes, these days are engineered to show the players at their best. Still, some of the deep passes thrown by Sanders are excellent here.
You can see the natural feel Sanders has for the passing game, particularly with the deep passes.
‘His deep ball passes are as good as anybody’s,’ said Baldinger during the broadcast.
A typical Sanders throw
On one throw, Sanders threw a beautiful touch pass to the right sideline. It’s one of the things he does exceptionally well in addition to deep passes: those mid-route touch passes.
Some of his passes are slightly wobbly but overall this is an impressive showing so far.
Hunter not wearing gloves
He was one of the few receivers not wearing them. That’s truly old school. The gloves are considered by most receivers to be a necessity in modern football. Sorry to nerd out here.
Shedeur Sanders begins throwing
His first throw was an underneath route while rolling right. It was a nice safe throw to get him going.
It should be noted that he was throwing to his wide receiver and other possible top five pick in Hunter.
Shedeur Sanders NFL combine measurements
Height: 6014
Weight: 212
Hand: 9 3/8
Arm: 31 4/8
Wingspan: 76 6/8
Deion Sanders talks with Browns owner
Colorado coach Deion Sanders spoke with Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam Friday at Colorado’s pro day and predicted either quarterback Shedeur Sanders or two-way star Travis Hunter will end up with the Browns as the No. 2 pick in the draft.
Shedeur and Hunter apparently had dinner with Browns representatives Thursday. Sanders said he wasn’t there because he goes to bed early.
“I just spoke to the owner, and he was truly delightful,” Sanders said at a news conference Friday. “He was truly pleasant. It was charming. It was engaging, and it was cool. It was aight. He’s a good guy, and I like him. I like him. I think one of those guys is gonna be there.”
Deion Sanders: Not going anywhere
Sanders addressed speculation that he wanted to follow his son to whichever franchise drafted the quarterback. Deion shut down that talk in an interview with ESPN.
‘I’m good,’ Deion said, ‘I’m (not) going anywhere.’
There’s another reason he’s not going anywhere. At least, not anytime soon.
Sanders just agreed to a new $10 million-per year contract that requires him to owe Colorado $12 million if he left this year for another job in 2025.
‘Shedeur is a dog’
Colorado coach Deion Sanders was interviewed by ESPN and when asked what advice he’s given to his son, Shedeur, he responded: ‘Shedeur is a dog.’
Translation: Shedeur was built for this big moment. This is something Deion has said before.
Shedeur Sanders age
He is 23. That was a glorious age.
Travis Hunter age
He is 21. That was a glorious age.
Where is the 2025 NFL draft?
Green Bay, Wisconsin, is the host of the 2025 NFL draft. Draft events, including the fan experience, will take place at Lambeau Field and the Titletown district of the city. Not sure if you knew this but there’s cheese in Wisconsin.
When is the 2025 NFL draft?
The 2025 NFL draft begins in late April and takes place over three days.
- Thursday, April 24: Round 1, 8 p.m. ET
- Friday, April 25: Rounds 2-3, 7 p.m. ET
- Saturday, April 26: Rounds 4-7, Noon ET
Shilo Sanders runs 40-yard dash
Coach Deion Sanders had promised his son Shilo a new car if he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.
Shilo just missed it Friday at 4.52 seconds but still made a good showing at Colorado’s pro day.
That time would have ranked among the 12 fastest safeties at the NFL scouting combine at Indianapolis this year, led by Kansas State safety Marques Sigle at 4.37 seconds.
Shilo, 25, was not invited to the combine. He instead contacted Zybek Sports to train himself with the same timing equipment used for the 40-yard dash at the combine.
Shilo led the team in tackles in 2023 and ranked third in 2024 despite missing three games with a broken forearm.
Travis Hunter doesn’t run
Colorado just ended a session of 40-yard dashes in front of NFL scouts, but Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter did not run in it.
That’s not surprising. NFL draft prospects are advised by agents or other experts about what to do or not in these meat-market settings. Since Hunter is almost certain to be a top-five draft pick, why risk his draft stock with a run that might not record him at his very best?
Colorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. had the best 40-time Friday at 4.40 seconds, besting the 4.46 seconds he recorded at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Thirteen wide receivers at the combine ran the 40 at 4.40 seconds or faster, led by Texas receiver Matthew Golden at 4.29 seconds.
Big jumps for Colorado receiver Will Sheppard
Here are a couple of isolated pieces of data from Colorado’s pro day: Wide receiver Will Sheppard recorded a 40-5 inch vertical jump Friday, which would have ranked among the eight best jumps at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis this year.
It would have tied for third place at the combine, behind South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori at 43 inches.
Sheppard, a transfer from Vanderbilt, also recorded a broad jump Friday of 10 feet, 11 inches, which would have ranked among the top 10 broad jumps at the combine (also led by Emmanwori at 11 feet, 6 inches).
But what does it really mean?
In theory, it means the 6-foot-3 Sheppard has the potential to catch balls that many others can’t.
It’s also a positive for Sheppard, who was not invited to the combine but could get a shot with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.
Jumping is only a small part of the game for a receiver, however. He still needs good hands, speed, strength and discipline.
Current NFL draft 2025 order
Here’s the 2025 NFL draft order for the first round as of April 4, according to Tankathon.com:
- Tennessee Titans: 3-14 record; .522 strength of schedule (SOS)
- Cleveland Browns: 3-14; .536 SOS
- New York Giants: 3-14; .554 SOS
- New England Patriots: 4-13; .471 SOS
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-13; .478 SOS
- Las Vegas Raiders: 4-13; .540 SOS
- New York Jets: 5-12; .495 SOS
- Carolina Panthers: 5-12; .498 SOS
- New Orleans Saints: 5-12; .505 SOS
- Chicago Bears: 5-12; .554 SOS
- San Francisco 49ers: 6-11; .564 SOS
- Dallas Cowboys: 7-10; .522 SOS
- Miami Dolphins: 8-9; .419 SOS
- Indianapolis Colts: 8-9; .457 SOS
- Atlanta Falcons: 8-9; .519 SOS
- Arizona Cardinals: 8-9; .536 SOS
- Cincinnati Bengals: 9-8; .478 SOS
- Seattle Seahawks: 10-7; .498 SOS
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-7; .502 SOS
- Denver Broncos: 10-7; .502 SOS
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7; .502 SOS
- Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6; .467 SOS
- Green Bay Packers: 11-6; .533 SOS
- Minnesota Vikings: 14-3; .474 SOS
- Houston Texans: 10-7; .481 SOS
- Los Angeles Rams: 10-7; .505 SOS
- Baltimore Ravens: 12-5; .529 SOS
- Detroit Lions: 15-2; .516 SOS
- Washington Commanders: 12-5; .436 SOS
- Buffalo Bills: 13-4; .467 SOS
- Kansas City Chiefs: 15-2; .488 SOS
- Philadelphia Eagles: 14-3; .453 SOS
Report: Hunter to run routes on pro day
What exactly Hunter was going to do at the pro day was the source of some speculation among various members of the media late Friday morning. Some said he wasn’t going to work out at all.
Longtime NFL journalist James Palmer reported Hunter will run routes at the pro day.
But what exactly Hunter and Sanders will do is still somewhat of a mystery. ESPN’s Field Yates reported Sanders will throw while Hunter’s participation ‘remains to be seen.’
ESPN: Browns owner credentialed for Colorado pro day
ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler reported that 160 media members, and 71 NFL personnel, are credentialed for Colorado’s pro day.
One of the NFL people credentialed, Kahler reported, is Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.
Both Sanders and Hunter are viable picks for the Browns with the team’s second overall pick.
Dan Orlovsky theory on why Sanders is difficult to evaluate
It’s actually a really interesting one.
“He’s the hardest quarterback I’ve had to evaluate since I’ve gotten into TV,’ said Orlovsky, the ESPN analyst. ‘Because 75% of his snaps don’t matter…And that’s the reality for everybody that’s evaluating Shedeur Sanders. Half of the snaps that he had at Colorado were thrown inside of five yards. It feels like when you watch his tape every ball is thrown at the line of scrimmage.
‘You’re not drafting him in the top five for that, right? So throw that out. That’s half the snaps. And then 25% of the snaps the offensive line protection is so terrible that I don’t care if you have Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes, you’re not doing anything with that either. So you get to evaluate 25% of his snaps.’
Teams are desperate to get as much information about Sanders as possible. Which is why this pro day could be so important.
Titans, Browns to work out Shedeur Sanders privately
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says Shedeur Sanders will have private workouts with the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns following his pro day.
This seems to be from the department of redundancy department duplicate floor. Why work out Sanders after he just worked out? Because these teams are bonkers and feel they need constant, non-stop information about the top prospects.
Who’s guiding pre-draft decisions of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter?
Shedeur and his safety brother Shilo Sanders didn’t have a certified agent to represent them in future NFL contract negotiations at last check. Many draft prospects typically have hired such agents already, with only weeks left before the NFL draft on April 24. These agents typically provide advice on whether to work out at the NFL combine and what to do or not at a school’s pro day.
Without an agent for Shedeur and Shilo, those decisions have been influenced by their father, a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Hunter has hired the Young Money APAA Sports agency, headed by certified agent Adie von Gontard.
What’s a good 40-yard dash time for a defensive back?
Shilo has been provided this data in his effort to improve his speed in front of NFL scouts. Before this year, the average 40-yard dash time at the NFL scouting combine for a defensive back since 2016 is 4.582 seconds, with the top 20% at 4.496 seconds, according to Zybek Sports owner Mike Weinstein.
That’s based on 748 individual athlete runs, including players who run twice.
Shilo and another Colorado safety, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, would do well to get under 4.5 seconds.
What other Colorado players deserve NFL attention?
It’s not just the Shedeur and Travis Show. Colorado said 16 total draft-eligible players would participate in drills Friday in front of NFL scouts.
Four of them previously were invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis: Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, receiver LaJohntay Wester and receiver Jimmy Horn Jr.
Another receiver to watch is Will Sheppard, a 6-foot-3 transfer from Vanderbilt who ranked third on the team last year behind Hunter and Wester with 48 catches for 621 yards receiving.
On defense, several playmakers will showcase their skills, including Arizona State transfer lineman B.J. Green, the team leader in sacks (7.5) and quarterback hurries (13) in 2024.
Besides Shilo Sanders (Deion’s middle son), there’s also another safety prospect that intrigues as a ballhawk who just seems to love to play football – Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig.
He was Colorado’s leading tackler in 2024 after transferring with the Sanders family from Jackson State two years ago. He’s the kind of player who might be undrafted but still could have a solid NFL career simply because he’s got a nose for the ball, plays hard and does what the coaches want him to do.
Shilo Sanders hoping for big day
This is an especially big day for Deion Sanders’ middle son, Shilo, Colorado’s safety. He is considered more a fringe draft prospect who did not get invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis and instead channeled his draft preparation for this very day, especially the 40-yard dash.
He contacted Zybek Sports, a local company that has been timing the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine for the past 13 years. The idea was to use the same timing equipment as the NFL combine to measure his speed and improve his time in the lead-up to today.
His dad also made a promise to him that if he runs the 40-year dash in 4.4 seconds, he’d buy him a new car, as documented by the YouTube channel of Shilo’s eldest brother, Deion Jr.
“If you run a 4.4, what kind of car you want?” Deion Sanders Sr. said to Shilo in the video.
Shilo, 25, has proven himself to be a hard-hitting ballhawk in his two seasons at Colorado, when he led the team in tackles in 2023 and ranked third on the team in tackles in 2024 despite missing three games with a broken forearm.
Why is this event a big deal for Colorado?
Colorado hasn’t seen this kind of NFL interest in more than a decade. All 32 NFL teams were expected to send representatives to attend the event and at least 150 media members have been credentialed to cover it, according to the school.
The Buffaloes haven’t had two first-round NFL draft picks in the same year since 2011 and haven’t had a quarterback drafted at all since 1997. That’s when the Philadelphia Eagles selected Koy Detmer in the seventh round. The last time they had a player selected in the top five was 1995, when the Washington football team picked wide receiver Michael Westbrook at No. 4 overall.
Last year, after Deion Sanders’ first season as coach, the Buffs didn’t have any players drafted but did have some prospects sign with NFL teams as undrafted free agents, including receiver Xavier Weaver (Arizona).
When is Shedeur Sanders’ pro day?
It’s today, you goof. That’s why you clicked on the story. It’s at Colorado and scheduled for Friday, April 4 at 2:30 eastern. The event is set to air live on NFL Network. The NFL Network generally does a remarkable job airing these pro days.
Who will work out with Sanders?
His Colorado teammates but the most important of those could be Travis Hunter, the two-way star who’s expected to come off the board possibly in the first five picks. Hunter is the Heisman Trophy winner.
Will Deion Sanders be there?
Does a Buffalo bleep in the woods? Or on the range? Or wherever Buffaloes go. Yes, he’ll be there. It’s a big day for his son. But almost as important: it’s a big day for his program. This is free and extensive exposure.
Where could Shedeur Sanders go in the draft?
That’s the million-dollar question and it’s looking it could be almost anywhere in the first round. He could go second overall to the Browns or third overall to the Giants or even late in the first round. I’m hearing from several teams that the evaluations of Sanders are all over the place.
Where will Hunter go in the draft?
His situation is completely different. It would be a mild shock if he slipped past five overall.
Are pro days dumb?
Yes. And no. Also, maybe.
In Sanders and Hunter’s case, this will be the first time teams have been able to truly evaluate them on the field since their college seasons ended. In that way, this is an important moment.
Also, many of the top players decline to work out at the combine, and they use the pro days (and the favorable conditions) as their one chance to impress teams.
Don’t you have anything better to do at 2:30 on a Friday, Mike?
No, and you don’t either. So let’s party!
How to watch Shedeur Sanders’ pro day
- Date: April 4
- Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Colorado’s indoor practice facility
- TV: NFL Network
- Streaming: Fubo, NFL+
