Buffs Beat

Aaron Rodgers' Preferred NFL Free Agency Team Alters Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Outlook?

Will the New York Giants sign quarterback Aaron Rodgers in NFL Free Agency? The Giants expect a decision soon from Rodgers, which will impact which NFL team will draft former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Bri Amaranthus

Dec 15, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Dec 15, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images / Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
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NFL Free Agency has turned into Aaron Rodgers watch. The four-time NFL MVP Rodgers is a free agent for the first time in his career and is garnering lots of attention on the open market. The Rodgers dominoes definitely have an impact on which NFL team will draft former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The New York Giants have the No. 3 overall selection in the draft and have a roster full of needs, including a glaring hole at quarterback. The Giants are major players for Rodgers but are reportedly growing impatient with his lack of decision.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) takes off his helmet after the game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) takes off his helmet after the game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jets held off the Jaguars 32-25. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"Everybody is waiting. Everyone's frustrated. I'll tell you that. I feel like the New York Giants are almost at a point right now where they're just ignoring it and they’re just trying to find another plan in case this doesn't work out," Dianna Russini of The Athletic said.

If New York does not land Rodgers or a different quarterback (Russell Wilson) in free agency, the Giants will look to the draft for a quarterback. With only Tommy DeVito on the roster currently, the Giants have been linked to Sanders.

"The New York Giants at No. 3, with a head coach and a GM that are on the hot seat going into this year, are not going to bypass Shedeur Sanders at third overall if he is there and they do not already have a veteran option at the level of Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers," ESPN's Field Yates said.

If New York does sign a veteran quarterback, Sanders' NFL draft outlook is unclear. Most NFL draft mocks have the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns drafting Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter and Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward with the top-two picks. The rest of the NFL teams who have top-8 NFL draft picks already have young quarterbacks.

This sets up a potential trade up for Sanders or a draft fall.

Deion Sanders (right) with his son Shedeur Sanders on the red carpet before Super Bowl LIX NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre. Ma
Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Deion Sanders (right) with his son Shedeur Sanders on the red carpet before Super Bowl LIX NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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The Las Vegas Raiders trade with the New England Patriots to draft Sanders No. 4-overall in the latest NFL mock draft by Fox Sports. Sanders is equipped for the Big Apple, one of the biggest markets in the world, as the son of NFL legend and current Colorado coach Deion Sanders.

The New York Jets decided to "move on" from Rodgers after he played for the Jets for two seasons, traded to New York in 2023 after a long and successful career with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers finished his Jets career with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a 6-12 record in 18 starts. He rehabbed a torn Achilles, which he suffered four plays into the 2023 NFL season.

The teams with the best odds to land Rodgers are the Giants, Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Draft Kings. However, the Minnesota Vikings are in "win now" mode and Rodgers is reportedly interested. A few weeks ago, the New York Daily News reported that Rodgers preference is to play for the Los Angeles Rams. However, quarterback Matthew Stafford decided to agree to a restructured deal to stay with the Rams.

Sanders' stats pop off the page. In 2024, Sanders led the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record, finishing with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns. His 74. completion percentage led the FBS. Sanders earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors and named the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, an annual award given to the top college quarterback.

The Pat McAfee show addressed an intriguing possibility where Rodgers is throwing passes to Sanders' former teammate Travis Hunter. The Heisman Trophy winner is one of the most highly-anticipated NFL rookies.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) may have played his last game for Gang Green, Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rut
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) may have played his last game for Gang Green, Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rutherford. / Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"The interesting thing would be if (Aaron) Rodgers (deal) gets done with the Giants," said Daniel Jeremiah on the Pat McAfee Show. "If Rodgers gets done with the Giants and you're in kind of a 'all-in right now we need to win to survive' so to speak - To me, if you're sitting there and Travis Hunter's there and you're the Giants - I've got a chance to have Aaron Rodgers and I can go out on one side with Malik Nabers and maybe the first year, maybe we want Travis Hunter to just kind of focus more on offense..."

"Man, that changes that offense real quick. And they become very interesting and very exciting. So that might pull the Giants out of the quarterback market, even at Aaron's age. I just think there's an urgency there. So that one is TBD," Jeremiah continued.

Whether it's Sanders or Hunter, it appears Rodgers' decision will undoubtedly change the NFL Draft landscape.

The 2025 NFL Draft is April 24-26, 2025 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. 

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Bri Amaranthus
BRI AMARANTHUS

Bri Amaranthus is an Emmy-winning sports reporter with over 12 years of experience in television, radio, podcasting, and digital sports journalism. She has been with Sports Illustrated for four years, providing breaking news, exclusive interviews, and analysis on the NFL, college sports, and the NBA. Prior to joining SI, Bri hosted NBC Sports Northwest's prime-time television show, where she also served as the Oregon beat reporter and created content covering both the NBA and college sports. Throughout her career, Bri has achieved significant milestones, including covering major events like the NBA Finals, NFL playoffs, College Football Playoff, NCAA Basketball Tournament, NFL Draft, and the NFL Combine. She earned a D1 scholarship to play softball at the University of San Diego and won two state softball titles in high school in Oregon. In addition to her Emmy win for NBC's All-Star Coach special, she has received multiple Emmy nominations, highlighting her dedication and talent in sports journalism.

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