The 2025 NFL Draft is still a few weeks away.
But today could clarify how the first round unfolds.
Decision makers from around the NFL will descend upon Boulder, Colorado today for the Colorado NFL Showcase, which features two of the more fascinating prospects in this year’s NFL Draft class. One of those players is CB/WR Travis Hunter Jr., who comes off a Heisman Trophy season and is already viewed as a consensus Top-Five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Then there is the player who threw Hunter so many passes over the past few seasons.
After opting not to participate in practices at the Shrine Bowl as well as deciding not to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine, quarterback Shedeur Sanders will throw for NFL evaluators during Colorado’s Pro Day today.
To get a sense of how big this event might be for the top of the NFL draft, consider who the New York Giants are sending to Boulder:
Today is Colorado Pro Day—QB Shedeur Sanders and CB/WR Travis Hunter will work out for scouts. The Giants have a BIG crew going, led by GM Joe Schoen, HC Brian Daboll, assistant GM Brandon Brown, DPP Tim McDonnell, OC Mike Kafka and DC Shane Bowen.
New York picks 3rd overall.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 4, 2025
This is something of a departure from what the Giants had planned. Daboll recently said that he would not be attending Colorado’s Pro Day, but the organization called an “audible” according to longtime Giants insider Art Stapleton.
“In a change of plans, Daboll will be there on campus as well, an individual with knowledge of the situation told NorthJersey.com and The Record,” Stapleton wrote Friday morning. “He initially was not planning to attend, but the Giants wound up calling an audible.”
While there are years of film available to evaluate Sanders, for some scouts and general managers there is no substitute for seeing a quarterback throw in person, and observing how the ball pops out of their hand at the release point. With Sanders opting not to throw at either the Shrine Bowl or the Combine, this is the last chance for evaluators to see the QB prospect in person before the draft begins at the end of the month.
With Daboll, the offensive-minded head coach, now headed to Boulder the door seems more open than ever to the Giants at least considering Sanders with the third-overall selection. While the Giants addressed the quarterback position with a pair of veterans in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, the organization is tied to both quarterbacks for just one season.
That means that the team could decide to draft a quarterback with the third selection and give them a redshirt season, of sorts, before handing them the keys to the offense in 2026.
However, there is also the thought that New York will be diving into one of the draft’s other major questions: Is Hunter a WR or a CB at the next level? The Giants have made some additions to their secondary this offseason, and could view Hunter as more of a wide receiver on their roster. But they could also look at him as more of a cornerback to start across from Paulson Adebo, with a carveout of offensive plays to use him on that side of the football as well.
With all signs pointing to Cameron Ward heading to the Tennessee Titans with the first-overall selection, and expectations holding that the Cleveland Browns will draft Abdul Carter with the second pick, the Giants could have both Colorado prospects available when they are on the clock at No. 3.
Meaning that what happens in Boulder today will not stay in Boulder, and could reverberate throughout the 2025 NFL Draft.
