INDIANAPOLIS – Shedeur Sanders isn't worried about being picked first overall in the NFL Draft.
But the Colorado product, and son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, said here at the NFL Combine on Friday he's the best quarterback in this year's draft class.
"The number of where you go don't matter," Sanders said when asked about the potential fit in Tennessee. "Tom Brady … was the best of the best in all categories. He didn't go first. So, the number, again, picked don't matter. I wasn't the top-rated quarterback coming out of high school because it's a lot of exterior things that people like and they don't like about me. I'm realistic and I'm realistic about my family and everything that people say it comes with."
Sanders said he's ready to change a franchise, no matter where he goes.
"That's the plan," he said. "If that's not what you're trying to do, don't get me. If you ain't trying to change the franchise or the culture, don't get me. So, you should know, history repeats itself over and over and over and I've done it over and over and over. So, it should be no question why an NFL franchise should pick me."
Sanders is one the biggest stars in this year's draft, and he's coming off a year when he threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns at Colorado. In his college career, which included two seasons at Jackson State and two seasons at Colorado, Sanders threw for whopping 134 touchdowns and just 27 interceptions.
He was a second-team AP All-American, and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
The Titans have already spent time with Sanders here at the NFL Combine, after meeting with him at the Shrine Bowl.
Coach Brian Callahan has raved about Sanders and his toughness.
"He took some pretty big shots and he kept rolling," Callahan said of Sanders. "He can stand in the pocket and deliver it. He can move and create a bit, he has some ability to move out the pocket, and he does create on his own. He's not a high-end dynamic scrambler necessarily, but he is productive when he does. And he really has a good feel for anticipation and timing, you can tell he's been coached in that regard. Those things show up on tape."
The confident Sanders made it clear he's thinks he's the top QB in this year's draft.
"Of course," he said. "Now the thing is I respect a lot of quarterbacks here. They put a lot of hard work in to get to this point, so it's kudos to them. It's truly respect. But I know what I bring to the table."
And he's ready for what's next because of his ability, and mental toughness as well.
"it is extremely important to keep your mental in your best place, because that's where my game is played," Sanders said. "My game's not played for my legs, and not even just my arm. So, in the longevity, the all-time greats. What's Tom Brady best trait? His mental, he's able to think. So, if you have those traits of greatness, and I know where I'm heading, then why wouldn't the franchise pick me? You got the ultimate cheat code."
As for his doubters?
"You think I'm worried about what critics say or what people got to say?" Sanders said. "You know who my dad is? They hated on him too. So, it's almost normal; without people hating it's not normal for us. We like the adversity. We like everything that comes with the name. That's why we are who we are."
