ESPN's Tim Hasselbeck Compares Shedeur Sanders to Former Bengals Quarterback Andy Dalton

Sanders could be a division rival for Cincinnati.

Dec 28, 2024; San Antonio, TX, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) warms up before the game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — The Bengals aren't drafting a quarterback highly anytime soon, but one big-name prospect did draw comparisons to an old Cincinnati passer.

ESPN's Matt Hasselbeck thinks Shedeur Sanders projects to play like Andy Dalton. He played nine seasons with the Bengals from 2011-19.

"He is smart. He knows how to play the position," Hasselbeck said about Sanders on NFL Live this week. "I think where it gets really tricky is like you're talking about rarified air when you're talking about drafting a guy at the top of the draft. Look, he just is not as physically talented as you would like to see. I mean, it sounds crazy considering he's Deion Sanders' son. But, that's just the case. My comp on Shedeur Sanders has kind of been in that like Andy Dalton range. People have compared him to Kirk Cousins. 

"Those are compliments. Both of those guys have thrown for over 250 touchdowns through their NFL careers. Both of those guys have led teams to the playoffs. But when you're talking about the top half of Round 1 (of the NFL draft), you're looking for elite traits. And he just doesn't have those. Look, you're gonna have to beat the market at quarterback. So you're gonna have to draft a rookie quarterback at some point because of what's happened with the Deshaun Watson deal."

Dalton was a three-time Pro Bowler in Cincinnati to go with a second-place finish in the 2011 Rookie of the Year race.

Sanders is the consensus big board's fourth-best player in the NFL Draft and the second-best quarterback. He very well could land in the AFC North with a QB-needy Browns team picking second this month.

"My comp on Shedeur Sanders has kind of been in that Andy Dalton range."@tthasselbeck shares how he believes the Colorado QB will translate to the NFL. pic.twitter.com/FcbHXR1u4D

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 31, 2025

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