What has made this NFL Draft so intriguing?

Shilo Sanders (left) played alongside brother Shedeur (right) at Colorado under their father Deion (centre)

NFL Draft 2025

Venue: Green Bay, Wisconsin Dates: Thursday, 24 April-Sunday, 26 April Start: 20:00 EDT (01:00 BST, Friday)

Coverage: Live text commentary via the BBC Sport website and app (from 23:45 BST)

The projected number one pick tends to get the most attention in the build-up to the NFL Draft.

This year, though, it seems Cam Ward has barely had a mention.

The 'unicorn' Travis Hunter and 'nepo baby' Shedeur Sanders have been the main talking points leading into this weekend's event in Green Bay.

The pair have been team-mates for the past three years, becoming two of the biggest stars in US college sport.

Now the uncertainty over their next step has helped make this one of the most intriguing drafts in years.

It is difficult to talk about Sanders without mentioning his father.

Deion Sanders was a Hall of Fame player in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls as a two-way player - he played on both defence and offence.

Nicknamed 'Prime Time', he also played in Major League Baseball and remains one of the most recognisable, charismatic figures in US sport.

He went on to work in the media and became head coach at Jackson State University in 2020, with youngest son Shedeur becoming their quarterback in 2021.

The following year Deion managed to lure two-way player Travis Hunter - 2022's highest-rated college recruit - before the trio left for Colorado in 2023.

Their three seasons together feature in the Amazon series Coach Prime, which helped thrust Colorado into national prominence in the US while the two players became household names.

Shedeur Sanders earned about $6.5m (£4.9m) through NIL deals in college and Hunter about $5.7m (£4.3m).

Why has Sanders become most polarising draft prospect?

Sanders is not shy about flaunting his wealth and his watch celebration was copied by players in the NFL, NBA and WNBA in 2023

Sanders was the initial favourite to be the first overall pick in this year's draft. Now he is its most polarising prospect.

The 23-year-old helped Colorado turn around their record last season, posting the best pass completion rate in college football (74%).

He also won one of the annual quarterback awards, but some feel he holds on to the ball too long and have questioned his arm strength and athleticism.

Shedeur, who has been branded a 'nepo baby', says having Deion as his dad has been advantageous to his football career as he has learned to deal with expectation and pressure from a young age.

But in March, some NFL staff said Shedeur came across as "brash and arrogant" as well as "unprofessional and disinterested" during his interviews at the Scouting Combine - a week-long event where college players are evaluated by NFL teams before the draft.

He is already wealthy and has a bigger profile than any previous draft prospect.

Some teams have been put off by the 'circus' - including his outspoken father - that surrounds Sanders, so some analysts fear he could slide out of the top-five picks, perhaps into the second round.

Why has Hunter threatened to quit?

Colorado have already retired the jersey numbers worn by Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders

The NFL has not had a genuine two-way player since Deion Sanders in the 1990s.

In 1997, Charles Woodson won the Heisman Trophy for best college player after playing significant time as both a cornerback and wide receiver but he went on to play solely on defence in the NFL.

Hunter has also been playing as a cornerback and wide receiver, and won not just last year's awards for best defensive player and best receiver - he clinched the Heisman too.

Speaking at the Combine in February, the 21-year-old said his role in the NFL was "up to the organisation" that drafts him, with teams having different ideas on what his best position is.

However, last week Hunter said he would "never play again" if he is not given the chance to continue being a two-way player in the NFL.

The Cleveland Browns have the second pick and their general manager Andrew Berry has compared Hunter to baseball's two-way star Shohei Ohtani, adding that "you get a unicorn if you use him both ways".

Hunter's father is currently on probation but has been granted permission to attend the draft with his son.

Where will Hunter & Sanders be drafted?

Hunter has said it is "super important" for him to be the first overall pick but Ward is now the clear favourite to be selected by the Tennessee Titans.

The ex-Miami quarterback has not been described as a generational talent like previous first picks Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams were in recent years.

However, he has been compared to Patrick Mahomes for his play-making ability – he can throw from different arm angles and make off-platform plays.

Much will then hinge on what Cleveland and the New York Giants do with the second and third picks, respectively.

They both need a young franchise quarterback but this year's draft class is perceived to be weak for quarterbacks and both teams signed veterans in free agency, potentially to bridge them over to next year.

Now the Browns and Giants are reportedly open to trading those early picks, or they could go for Hunter and pass rusher Abdul Carter before taking a quarterback with a less valuable pick.

Prospects projected to be early picks tend to be invited to the draft and Sanders is not among the 15 who will be attending.

The New Orleans Saints (ninth pick) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (21st) could also be in the market for a starting quarterback.

If Sanders is still on the board after that then fellow quarterbacks Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough could all be drafted before him, something no-one thought possible a few months ago.