Gridiron What-if: What if the Philadelphia Eagles Drafted Shedeur Sanders?

In a world where fate is often determined by a single play, a coaching hire, or draft pick, what if the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders? Coach Deion Sanders made headlines when he told Speak that he would privately step in to prevent the “wrong team” from drafting Shedeur Sanders. The wrong team would be any team that doesn’t have the track record of developing quarterbacks. That eliminates more than half of the NFL. As history has shown, it also eliminates most teams that would thrust him straight into action.

Enter the Philadelphia Eagles. While the Eagles don’t need a quarterback with Jalen Hurts firmly entrenched as the starter, they also didn’t need a quarterback when they drafted Hurts. Many fans and analysts were puzzled and/or outraged by the pick. The Eagles look pretty smart for making that pick now.

Why the Philadelphia Eagles Should Draft Shedeur Sanders

While there are valid arguments against wasting a draft pick on a position that’s not needed, the best draft strategy is always to draft the best available player. That means we are operating on the assumption that Shedeur Sanders falls in the draft to wherever the Eagles draft, which looks like it might be in the mid-20’s at the earliest. But let’s take that factor out of the equation for the moment. Here are a few reasons why Shedeur Sanders and Philadelphia would be a good pairing.

The Eagles O-line

While the Eagles offensive line hasn’t been as good this year as last, they are always among the best in the NFL. The trenches are a huge focus for the Eagles from the top to the bottom. Their o-line coach is among the best in the business. One of the keys to a successful quarterback is a solid offensive line, just ask Caleb Williams.

The Eagles Skill Players

Another key to a QB’s success is the skill players he’s throwing and handing the ball too. Perhaps no team in the NFL has the riches that the Eagles have. They have two WR1s in DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown, a top 5 TE in Dallas Goedert, and Saquon Barkley is easily a top 5 RB. It makes Hurts’ job easier and would for Sanders as well.

The Eagles Need a Dependable QB2

Over the last few seasons, the Eagles have had a carousel of quarterbacks fill in as QB2. While it isn’t the highest priority for any team, it can make or break a season. No one knows this better than the Philadelphia Eagles. This is especially true when your quarterback runs as often as Jalen Hurts does. The Eagles have had more consistency at QB3 than QB2 for quite a few years now, shuffling through Gardner Minshew, Marcus Mariota, and Kenny Pickett. While some backup quarterbacks eventually make a name for themselves (ie. Geno Smith, Tyrod Taylor, etc.), they mostly live their careers as backups. But look at what Green Bay has done with Aaron Rodgers sitting behind Brett Favre and then Jordan Love sitting behind Rodgers. Drafting a quarterback before it is a need is the way to develop the next starter.

Shedeur Sanders plays a similar style as Hurts

If you look at the last few backup quarterbacks the Eagles have had, they’ve mostly played a very different style from Jalen Hurts. Mariota played a similar style but Pickett and Minshew certainly weren’t scaring defenses with their run ability. This forces the offensive coaching staff to make changes in the way the game is played and when you are leading the division that’s the last thing you want to do. Shedeur Sanders would line up better with Hurts’ playing style and would be able to learn a lot from him.

The Tenuous Relationship Between Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni

This could be an argument for either side of the debate. On one hand, the Eagles might hesitate with images of Carson Wentz in the back of their minds. Jalen Hurts being drafted when Wentz was firmly entrenched as the started seemed to be the catalyst to Wentz imploding. Sure, it probably would have happened either way, but the timing is suspect. But if things were to go south with Hurts and Sirianni, the Eagles would want to have their future quarterback already in the wings and with experience in the offense and with the organization.

The Eagles Coaching Staff

Assuming things do go completely awry with Hurts or the Eagles season, Sanders would have the benefit of working with one of the most creative coaching staffs in the league. Coach Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore have a reputation of being bold in their play-calling and might even find ways to work Sanders into the offense along with Hurts. Can you image that?

The Eagles Front Offense

Outside of the players and coaching staff that Sanders would have around him, the Eagles boast one of the best front offices in all of football. Need proof? Just look at the From owner Jeffry Lurie who is willing to embrace the latest trends and seems to have incredible foresight when hiring to GM Howie Roseman who is known for his wheeling and dealing on draft day and at the trade deadline, the young QB would have all the support he needs to be successful in the league his father once owned. But that begs the question, could Deion Sanders let his son play for the nemesis of his Cowboys?