As the excitement builds for the upcoming NFL draft in just 17 days, speculation around where Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be chosen is heating up. Despite what Colorado coach Deion Sanders might say about his son's prospects, the odds are heavily favoring the New Orleans Saints to snag the talented quarterback.

According to leading sports betting platforms DraftKings and FanDuel, the Saints stand at +300, making them the top choice to select Sanders as they hold the ninth overall pick in the draft. Hot on their heels are the New York Giants, with odds of +350, followed by the Cleveland Browns at +425 and the Pittsburgh Steelers at 7-1. The New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Rams each trail behind with 10-1 odds.

While the Giants pick third overall, there’s a consensus that they might not go for Sanders right away. Instead, they could opt to trade down to acquire him at a later spot. The Raiders, sitting at sixth, have recently signed Geno Smith but could still be in pursuit of a promising quarterback like Sanders. Meanwhile, the Jets at seventh have their eyes on Justin Fields, potentially eyeing Sanders as a bridge quarterback.

If Sanders slips past the Saints, the landscape could quickly change, with teams eager to trade up to secure his talents. The Panthers, who possess the eighth pick, could become a critical trade partner. There’s historical precedence for this; just eight years ago, the Kansas City Chiefs made a strategic move to jump ahead of the Saints to draft Patrick Mahomes.

For teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, who hold the 20th pick, the urgency to find a long-term solution at quarterback is clear. Even if they seal a deal for Aaron Rodgers, there’s concern about the future of Kenny Pickett. Could Shedeur Sanders be the answer they are searching for?

As the draft nears, the tension builds not only for Sanders but for the franchises eyeing to bolster their rosters with this young star’s potential. Will the Saints indeed make the move, or will a surprise trade reshape the entire draft order? Stay tuned!